Rod Blake
Encyclopedia
Rod Blake is a former Australian rules football
ruckman
whose career spanned a thirteen-year period beginning in 1971. He played a total of 176 games in the Victoria Football League and kicked 113 goals.
in the VFL in 1971 after being recruited from local club Inverleigh. He did not truly cement his spot in the first eighteen however until 1979, when he took over from Sam Newman
as the number one ruckman.
He was considered a lightweight at 93.5 kg (206 lbs); however, Blake compensated for this potential disadvantage with agility and height – towering over his peers at 199 cm (6 ft 5in). In 1980 he won the club's best and fairest award, the Carji Greeves Medal
. The same year he also started out as a favourite for the Brownlow Medal
, but fell just short – finishing on 19 votes, four behind the winner Kelvin Templeton
of Footscray.
He retired following the conclusion of the 1983 season. During his VFL career Blake represented Victoria three times. He is the father of current Geelong player Mark Blake.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
whose career spanned a thirteen-year period beginning in 1971. He played a total of 176 games in the Victoria Football League and kicked 113 goals.
History and Achievements
Blake began his career with GeelongGeelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in the VFL in 1971 after being recruited from local club Inverleigh. He did not truly cement his spot in the first eighteen however until 1979, when he took over from Sam Newman
Sam Newman
John Noel William "Sam" Newman is a retired Australian rules football player and current television personality. He is a featured presenter on the AFL version of The Footy Show.-VFL career:...
as the number one ruckman.
He was considered a lightweight at 93.5 kg (206 lbs); however, Blake compensated for this potential disadvantage with agility and height – towering over his peers at 199 cm (6 ft 5in). In 1980 he won the club's best and fairest award, the Carji Greeves Medal
Carji Greeves Medal
The Carji Greeves Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for the Geelong Football Club for the season....
. The same year he also started out as a favourite for the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
, but fell just short – finishing on 19 votes, four behind the winner Kelvin Templeton
Kelvin Templeton
Kelvin Templeton is a former Australian rules footballer. At sixteen years of age Templeton kicked 100 goals for Traralgon in the 1973 Latrobe Valley FL season...
of Footscray.
He retired following the conclusion of the 1983 season. During his VFL career Blake represented Victoria three times. He is the father of current Geelong player Mark Blake.
External links
- Player profile at the Geelong Football ClubGeelong Football ClubThe Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
- The Age: Cats want AFL rethink on father-son rule revamp