The unorthodox Cat who Duncan labels 'phenomenal'

Geelong dual premiership veteran Mitch Duncan has heaped praise on premiership utility Mark Blicavs after he reached game 250 against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

The Cats managed to hold off the Dogs to record a four-point win, their fourth for the season.

Blicavs collected 15 touches and laid six tackles in the win at Adelaide Oval.

The 33-year-old was selected in unlikely circumstances in the 2012 draft, bringing in zero football knowledge or skills when he walked into the doors at Kardinia Park.

Flashforward to 2024 and Blicavs is arguably one of the Cats’ greatest and most versatile players of the modern era.

Blicavs didn’t enter the league in normal fashion, instead being drafted as a category B rookie, amidst his attempts to qualify for London 2012 as a steeplechaser.

“To see where he’s got to now from where he’s come from is quite phenomenal. As the coach (Chris Scott) said, he couldn’t kick on either foot,” Duncan said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“Phenomenal story. Just someone who wanted to learn.”