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The specialty role versatile ruckman should play in Grand Final
SEN • September 25th, 2025 4:55 pm
Geelong is set to enter the 2025 Grand Final with a new look lineup, fielding two ruckman for the first time this post-season.
With star defender Tom Stewart set to miss with concussion suffered in the Cats’ Preliminary Final win over Hawthorn, coach Chris Scott is set to opt against a like-for-like change, with ruckman Rhys Stanley expected to take Stewart’s place in the Grand Final side.
Given Stanley’s inclusion, the Cats will play with both he and ruckman Mark Blicavs for the first time since the final round of the home and away season despite Blicavs’ success as the solo operator.
In Geelong’s Qualifying Final win over the Lions, Blicavs went head-to-head with Brisbane’s Darcy Fort, with both sides opting for the single ruck set-up. The undersized Blicavs lost the hit-out count 52-26, however was ranked as one of the best afield, with the Cats winning the clearance count anchored by their ruckman's groundwork.
In finals following, the Lions have played both Fort and Oscar McInerney and are expected to continue with the set-up heading into the final game of the season.
While Blicavs is expected to work in tandem with Stanley, former Crow and Cat Josh Jenkins believes the versatile ruckman should be used in a specialty role to shut down one of the Lions’ best.
“I think they will want the ability to do whatever they need to do with Blicavs,” Jenkins told *SEN’s The Run Home”.
“This is what I would do; I would play Mark Blicavs defensive forward on Harris Andrews. He’s got the size – he’s 6’6, which is Andrews’ biggest strength (and) he’s so disciplined in the role.
“All the forwards that have played on Harris Andrews thus far are still thinking of playing on him in this respect; ‘There’s the ball, I might hit up and try to get a hold of the ball’.
“Andrews just says, 'go up the ground, I’m going to stay here and (intercept).' He is reading the ball so quickly at the moment.
“(If) Blicavs plays on him, he’s got the size to nullify him in the air, he’ll probably have an advantage at ground level, and he won’t get sucked into the ball. He’ll just stay there.
“Billy Frampton did it two years ago. If they can do that and take Andrews out of the game, they will win.”
