Geelong Cats: Mark Blicavs wins 2018 Carji Greeves Medal

MARK Blicavs capped his superb individual season by claiming Geelong’s best and fairest, but there was one notable name missing from the top 10.

Lachie Young

3 min read

October 5, 2018 - 9:53AM

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2018 Carji Greeves Medal winner Mark Blicavs. Picture: Peter Ristevski

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GEELONG backman Mark Blicavs has capped a stunning season by claiming the 2018 Carji Greeves Medal.

The 27-year-old held out midfield dynamos Patrick Dangerfield and Tim Kelly by just half a vote to win in one of the tightest counts in recent memory.

But perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was Gary Ablett’s absence from the top 10.

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The Cats champ, a two-time best and fairest winner at the Cats and four-time winner with Gold Coast, came under scrutiny for his form at times in 2018 but coach Chris Scott defended his star.

He played 19 matches for the year and polled 14 Brownlow votes.

While his omission from the final leaderboard featuring the top 10 raised some eyebrows, recognition for Blicavs’ fine season did not.

The versatile Cat, who signed a five-year contract extension with the Cats during the season, now joins a select group in becoming a multiple Carji Greeves Medallist after he won the award in 2015.

Mark Blicavs is congratulated by partner Georgia Minear. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Having played a variety of roles for Geelong since making his debut in 2012, the former steeplechaser was forced to play as a key defender this year following injuries to Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson.

He quickly established himself as one of the most reliable backmen in the competition and was named in the 40-man All-Australian squad after helping the Cats become the number one ranked defensive group in the league.

Carji Greeves red carpet

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Blicavs praised assistant coach Matthew Scarlett for helping him transition into the Geelong defence and said he had made learning the craft an enjoyable experience.

“I think I have had a consistent year and I really enjoyed my football like I did in 2015,” Blicavs said.

“I was pretty injury-free this year and I loved being back in defence. They are a great bunch of guys and learning off Scarlo was great, too, and that enjoyment came through in my footy.

“If I didn’t get back I would have had plenty to offer in the midfield or the ruck but it was a new challenge and it simplified the game for me, which helped, so I classify myself as a defender now.

“Scarlo was huge and he expects the world of you and wants you to perform and do the team thing but the way he goes about it, he fills young players with confidence. We saw Jack Henry come in and the confidence that he got playing back and the impact he had going forward was a lot to do with Scarlo and the way that he coaches.”

Carji Greeves Medal winner Mark Blicavs (centre) with runners up Patrick Dangerfield (left) and Tim Kelly. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Dangerfield would have become the first player in Geelong’s history to win three consecutive club best-and-fairest awards but was joined by first-year sensation Kelly on the dais in equal second position.

The Brownlow medallist had been named in the All-Australian team this year and averaged 28 possessions per game, despite spending more time forward than in previous seasons.

Kelly, who it was today revealed has requested a trade to West Coast, was a revelation in his first season, which saw him recognised by the AFL Players Association as the best first year player.

The West Australian registered 30 disposals or more four times in his debut season and kicked 24 goals, but his future remains up in the air, with West Coast likely to try to lure him home during the upcoming trade period.

Former winners Tom Hawkins and Joel Selwood rounded out the top five, but Gary Ablett was a notable absentee within the top ten, which was completed by Mitch Duncan, Tom Stewart, Jake Kolodjashnij, Sam Menegola and Zach Tuohy.