Melbourne great Garry Lyon has reserved remarkable praise for Geelong veteran Mark Blicavs after his vital role for the Cats on Saturday and over the course of his career.
Famed as an Olympic middle-distance running aspirant before switching his focus full-time to footy, Blicavs is the ultimate Swiss Army Knife for Chris Scott, filling a huge range of roles over his 293-game career.
Now 34 years old, Blicavs has been a model of consistency ever since he broke into the Geelong team back in 2013.
He has appeared in at least 20 games in every one of his 13 seasons bar one, his 19-game effort in 2023 when he suffered a hamstring injury.
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An accomplished defender, midfielder, run-with player or ruckman, Blicavs can also pinch-hit up forward if needed, kicking 78 goals in his career including the first after halftime in last weekend's qualifying final victory over Brisbane.
An All-Australian, two-time club best and fairest and premiership winner in 2022, Blicavs quietly goes about his business with minimal fuss and would surely be among the first names locked in every single week by the Geelong match committee.
With the Cats' No.1 ruck option Rhys Stanley sidlined with a hamstring injury, Scott called on Blicavs to fill the role against the Lions.
He responded with 26 hitouts, 20 disposals, six clearances, five marks and five tackles to be one of the best players on the ground.
It all added up to Lyon making a glowing assessment of the blond star and reminding the footy world he will be badly missed whenever he does retire.
“They lose their ruckman, Stanley is out. No problem, we’ll play Mark Blicavs in the ruck,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“Someone has texted in - is he the most versatile player? I think he is the most versatile player the game has ever seen.
“I know other players have done similar things, but he (Blicavs) plays ruck, he plays wing, he plays forward now, he plays back.
"He can play full-back, centre half-back, he can run with a player. I say this all the time - you won’t appreciate him until he’s gone.
“When you lose your ruckman ahead of a big final and you just go, ‘Blitz can do it’. Unbelievable.”