- Rod Blake
Infobox afl player
firstname = Rod
lastname = Blake
| birthdate = 1952
birthplace =Geelong, Victoria
originalteam =Inverleigh
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = 1971
debutteam =Geelong Football Club
debutopponent =
debutstadium =
playingteams =Geelong Football Club
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 1984
careerhighlights = *Carji Greeves Medal winner (1980)
* 176 games
* 133 goalsRod Blake (born 15 June 1952) 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 theVictoria Football League and kicked 113 goals.History and Achievements
Blake began his career with Geelong 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 fromSam 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 (6ft 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 theBrownlow Medal , but fell just short – finishing on 19 votes, four behind the winnerKelvin 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.
External links
* [http://gfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=players&spg=playerprofile&personid=204484 Player profile] at the
Geelong Football Club
* [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/19/1055828434792.html The Age: Cats want AFL rethink on father-son rule revamp]
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