Sydney’s Nick Blakey is adding weight as midfield move beckons in 2020
Is Nick Blakey on your SuperCoach radar? With this potentially game-changing positional update, maybe he should be. Find out exactly what is planned for the young gun in 2020.
Sydney
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Beefed-up forward Nick Blakey will take on a sizeable challenge in 2020 with a midfield berth beckoning for the club’s rising star.
He’s no Arnold Schwarzenegger but a careful diet plan and gym program means opponents will have a more formidable unit to tackle when the season gets underway.
The youngster, who admits he’s been a “tall, skinny kid” for as long as he can remember has added six kilos to his frame and now tips the scale at 86kg – and he’s not finished yet.
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Some added armour will help as he prepares for a campaign that will see him occupy a couple of different roles. SuperCoaches everywhere take note!
Midfield coach Jarrad McVeigh believes Blakey can aid the Swans cause both as a forward and further back.
Blakey met with coaching staff at the end of last season to discuss a plan for the off season and he was set a target of boosting his bulk.
“One of the goals I was given (for the off-season) was to come back at 85 kilos and I did that,” he said.
“So I’ve put on about six kilos since last year and am slowly starting to put on size but still need to put on more. “I’m now 86 kilos and I’ll have another target in the next couple of weeks when we break for Christmas.
“I’m making sure I’m eating three big meals a day and also making sure I snack throughout the day – not waiting until I’m hungry to eat. Lots more veggies and also salads. Our dietitian been working with me really closely and it’s starting to pay dividends.
“I’ve put the weight on pretty quickly since we started doing that. It’s about adding lean muscle mass while keeping your skinfolds down.
“But it’s also about making sure you keep your athleticism and running strengths as well. We’ve been very careful about that.
“I think just getting that bit bigger is going to help my football a lot.”
As for more midfield minutes, Blakey is happy to embrace the challenge.
“I played a bit of football on the wing towards the end of the year,” he said. “I suppose developing my game and taking it to a new level would be to step up and play more midfield minutes, but, yes, I’ve been training a bit as a midfielder.”
Club legend McVeigh has no doubts Blakey has much to offer in a midfield role.
“Nick had a really good year last year as a young developing forward but we really think he can add something to our midfield,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“He’s got beautiful skills, his vision and his sidestep are a real strength. (It would) be great to see him in that area.
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“He’s put on a bit of weight and running really well in the pre-season. (They are) good signs.
“Heading into your second year you don’t want to rest on your laurels. He really wants to put his best foot forward and keep improving for us.”
But come round one, just don’t expect the recipient of the club’s 2019 Rising Star award to be ripped like The Terminator.
“That’s just never going to happen,” Blakey laughed.