You gest side in the comp now with our 4 oldest players departing the club, we don’t have a 30 plus year old on our list anymore
Blakiston & Bryan Ruck combo. or with may or with Wright
I probably want to see him in defence again next year with McKay and Ridley.
If Ridley gone, he’s even more important.
But think he is pretty versatile and we could see him forward as well.
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Excellent
I think he’ll be a positive breath of fresh air for the ruck, his brief cameos in the last few games were interesting
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He will definitely bring more at ground level in the centre square than Goldy was bringing.
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and the boy can leap!
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Brings a kind of “Judd Lalich” vibe to the party and I’m here for it.
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Blaki has a massive opportunity ahead of him for 2026 given our other rucks stocks.
Hope he is capable of seizing the moment.
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I’d hope they all would be training very hard considering what some of them served up ..
as for Blakistin hope he gets a look in early in the year in the ruck
couldn’t have done anymore then he was asked last year
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Unless Bryan comes back from injury very quickly, it is almost a certainty Blakiston will get a few weeks in the ruck (at least).
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I would suggest, given how slow most players are to get confidence in a knee after doing an ACL, that Blakiston could very well spend the first half of the year as the #1 ruck. I see him as a Blicavs type. Whether that is a good or bad thing I don’t know, it will depend how the new rules around bounce/boundary impact on ruckwork.
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This bloke brought me a lot of joy this year watching him play footy.
I hope he has a great off-season, pre-season, and 2026 season.
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Quite like Blaki. Fits my team building philosophy of pay as little as possible for a competitive ruckman and beyond that he showed he’s pretty athletic for his size. I’m actually quite hoping he cements a spot for a few years while Vigo develops and Bryan’s leg reattaches to his body.
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Ruck only please, really liked what he offered there in the last few weeks. Athletic, good at ground level and doesn’t panic under pressure ball in hand.
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New ruck rules will suit Blaki. Bounce has been removed, so a consistent ball height will suit leapers. If as expected rucks aren’t allowed to cross the centre square and wrestle before contesting the ball up, leaping rucks will be further advantaged.
Blaki impressed when rucking late in the season, and the new rules and a big preseason will only further improve his chances of performing. Reckon he will surprise a few.
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Most likely he will start Round 1 as our #1ruckman, unless Vigo improves a lot.
Unfortunately neither will have a top level ruckman to train against over the preseason unless we can get someone decent to coach them. How the umpires interpret the new rules is uncertain.
I thought Blaki did really well to come into the AFL from nowhere and play 11 pretty solid games. Shoved into defence (out of necessity) but more ruck time in the last few games and he has some tricks + decent ruck craft..He may well be a bit of a surprise packet in 2026 and prove to be an astute pickup..
Blaki will likely be our number 1 ruck ahead of Vigo and 2MP (at least until Bryan returns)and at 27 he’s coming into those prime ruck years-let’s hope he goes well..!!
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I’m pretty excited to see what he can do as first ruck this year. I’m not a big wrap for Bryan, so to my mind we need another mature ruck. Blakiston is really mobile, got a great leap and is strong enough to wrestle when required. I think he will add a bit around the ground too.
Surprisingly excited to watch him this year.
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Shades of Blicavs.
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