AFL 2024: Mark Blicavs excited by Geelong trio who are set for greater opportunity after Cameron Guthrie’s injury

Who can step up in the absence of important midfielder Cameron Guthrie? A premiership Cat is excited to see a trio of emerging midfielders. Meanwhile, the Cats have named their squad.

Geelong utility Mark Blicavs believes Cameron Guthrie’s untimely setback will give extra opportunity to several emerging Cats but conceded it will be difficult to replace the important midfielder.

The club confirmed on Tuesday that Guthrie would be sidelined for 8-10 weeks with a right quad tendon injury that he sustained in the opening seconds of Geelong’s practice match against Carlton last week.

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Geelong’s midfield struggled without the two-time Carji Greeves medallist last season, ranking in the bottom five in the competition for clearances and sixth last for contested possessions.

Blicavs is eager to see what Jhye Clark, Tanner Bruhn and Jack Bowes can produce in Guthrie’s absence, with Bruhn already receiving more midfield exposure towards the end of 2023.

The trio were among Geelong’s top centre bounce attendees in their practice match last week, where Clark and Bowes were particularly impressive.

They will be put to the test against prolific Essendon midfielders Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish in their community series clash at GMHBA Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Bowes spent most of his first season at the Cats in defence but appears set for an enhanced on-ball role in 2024, the position he made a name for himself in as a junior.

Blicavs, who turns 33 next month, is preparing for another season as Geelong’s Mr Fix It and said he may be thrown into the middle to cover for Guthrie.

Jhye Clark is among the players who are set for enhanced midfield roles. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“It is frustrating, he is obviously disappointed – we’re all disappointed. He’s one of the best to handle it I think, he always stays so positive. You do feel that frustration but he’s so good at not showing it around everyone else to keep everyone up,” Blicavs

said.

“It is disappointing but he is right back to work, ticking off what he needs to do.

“It’s just opportunity for a lot of other players to come through now. You don’t cover it because he is a pretty good player on the defensive end and the attacking end, but we’ve seen the guys that run through there in the midfield. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Jhye Clark, Tanner Bruhn (can do), Jack Bowes has been really good this pre-season.

“Those guys to run through and compliment ‘Axe’ (Tom Atkins) and Pat (Dangerfield) and those guys. Potentially might be a bit more midfield time for myself with ‘Guth’ going down but I think what we’ve done is got a big group, got a lot of depth in that line and we’ve always been a club that has played good team footy and a system that if we had a star player like Guth, (or) if ‘Hawk’ were to go down, we back the system around it to take care of that. One person out, one person in and hopefully the results stay constant.”

“My role this year will be similar to previous years where it could be a lot of different variety. Been working a bit on the wing, been helping out in the ruck as well again so excited to improve and help the team going forward.

“I really enjoy being up around the ball and I suppose that second type ruck, helping ruckman that we’ve got coming in. that’s just my role so if I can complement the guys around and make life easier for them when I play, then that’s the plan.”

Mark Blicavs will be playing all over the ground once again in 2024. Picture: Michael Klein

Blicavs is unsure what Geelong’s ruck make-up will look like early in the season as 20-year-old Toby Conway challenges incumbent Rhys Stanley for the top spot.

“They’ve been really good together, they’re working hard together. Rhys has really tried to take it on him to help Toby with some of Rhys’ strengths, and Toby’s got strengths that Rhys doesn’t so. It’s really exciting and I think it is not only the ruck, we have got competition throughout the lines, we’ve got a really healthy list so there is going to be competition for spots,” Blicavs said.

“It’s really good to see both of them work together and how they play on the field together as well. Where I fit into that equation in terms of helping in the ruck I’m unsure but I just want to get the best out of our players playing.

Captain Patrick Dangerfield told this publication this month that he sees similarities between Blicavs and Geelong’s top selection from last year’s draft Connor O’Sullivan.

But Blicavs isn’t so sure.

“He’s better than me,” he said with a laugh.

“I just get the ball and kick it 50m forward, he is very skilful, knows the game really well, he’s built … ‘Sully’ is looking good, his body looks big, he looks AFL-ready so I’m really looking forward to seeing him when he gets his opportunity.

“But he’s come in and for an 18-year-old he is really professional and he knows how to work hard and I think that’s a real key as a young player is how to actually push yourself at training and work hard and he’s got that.

“He’s a very exciting player for us and probably another one too, he has been doing a lot of training down back but versatile so could play a lot of positions.”

CATS TEAM v ESSENDON

B: M. O’Connor, S. De Koning, J.Kolodjashnij

HB: Jack Henry, T.Stewart, J.Bews

C: M.Blicavs, M.Holmes, M.Duncan

HF: T.Stengle, B.Close, J.Cameron

F: T.Hawkins, G.Miers, S.Neale

Foll: R.Stanley, P.Dangerfield, T.Atkins

Int: Z.Guthrie, T.Bruhn, J.Clark, O.Mullin, Z.Tuohy, O.Dempsey, S.Mannagh, J.Bowes

Emerg: T.Conway, M.Knevitt, C.O’Sullivan, B.Parfitt

Notable absentees: G.Rohan (back), O.Henry (rolled ankle)

Originally published as AFL 2024: Mark Blicavs excited by Geelong trio who are set for greater opportunity after Cameron Guthrie’s injury