Mark Blake (Australian rules footballer)

Mark Blake (born 9 September 1985) is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A tap ruckman, 2.00 m tall and weighing 102 kg, Blake played 99 games for Geelong between 2005 and 2010, including the 2009 AFL Premiership.

Career
Blake was drafted in the 2003 AFL Draft under the father–son rule, his father being former Geelong ruckman Rod Blake. He debuted in 2005 in a losing game in front of a crowd of 28,165 at the SCG. Blake kicked his first two career goals against Richmond at Skilled Stadium in round 18, 2007.

After having little impact in the 2007 preliminary final against Collingwood, Blake was dropped on the eve of the 2007 AFL Grand Final for former Geelong captain and ruckman, Steven King.

2008 was a successful year for Blake, seeing him permanently become a part of Geelong's ruck duo along with Brad Ottens. Blake developed as a footballer substantially in 2008 and has improved his around the ground work.

2011 was a terrible year for Blake, getting no AFL appearances and was said to be trade bait. On 19 October 2011 Blake announced his retirement, effective immediately.

Personal life
Blake attended high school at Belmont High in Geelong, and played grassroots football for South Barwon in the Geelong Football League.

Statistics


! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2004 ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2005 ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2006 ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2007 ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2008 ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2009 ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2010 ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011 ! colspan=3| Career ! 99 ! 12 ! 16 ! 248 ! 687 ! 935 ! 265 ! 96 ! 1889 ! 0.1 ! 0.2 ! 2.5 ! 6.9 ! 9.4 ! 2.7 ! 1.0 ! 19.1
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * 24 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
 * 24 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
 * 24 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 7 || 11 || 18 || 6 || 1 || 27 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 2.3 || 3.7 || 6.0 || 2.0 || 0.3 || 9.0
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * 24 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 12 || 45 || 57 || 16 || 9 || 97 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.5 || 5.6 || 7.1 || 2.0 || 1.1 || 12.1
 * 24 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 12 || 45 || 57 || 16 || 9 || 97 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 1.5 || 5.6 || 7.1 || 2.0 || 1.1 || 12.1
 * 24 || 22 || 2 || 6 || 62 || 147 || 209 || 65 || 26 || 379 || 0.1 || 0.3 || 2.8 || 6.7 || 9.5 || 3.0 || 1.2 || 17.2
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * 24 || 25 || 6 || 6 || 77 || 179 || 256 || 87 || 22 || 525 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 3.1 || 7.2 || 10.2 || 3.5 || 0.9 || 21.0
 * 24 || 25 || 6 || 6 || 77 || 179 || 256 || 87 || 22 || 525 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 3.1 || 7.2 || 10.2 || 3.5 || 0.9 || 21.0
 * 24 || 21 || 3 || 2 || 47 || 149 || 196 || 46 || 25 || 482 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 2.2 || 7.1 || 9.3 || 2.2 || 1.2 || 23.0
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * - style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
 * 24 || 20 || 1 || 2 || 43 || 156 || 199 || 45 || 13 || 379 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 2.2 || 7.8 || 10.0 || 2.3 || 0.7 || 19.0
 * 24 || 20 || 1 || 2 || 43 || 156 || 199 || 45 || 13 || 379 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 2.2 || 7.8 || 10.0 || 2.3 || 0.7 || 19.0
 * 24 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * }

Honours and achievements
Team
 * AFL Premiership (Geelong): 2009
 * AFL McClelland Trophy (Geelong): 2007, 2008
 * AFL NAB Cup (Geelong): 2006, 2009

Individual
 * Vic Country representative honours at the AFL Under 18 Championships: 2003