One of the most versatile players that the game has ever seen, Mark Blicavs somehow seems to get better each and every week.
After playing a starring role against Brisbane a fortnight ago, Blicavs backed it up with another strong performance against Hawthorn on Friday night to help guide his team to another Grand Final.
Playing predominantly in the ruck, the experienced Cat finished with 12 disposals, 29 hit-outs and four clearances, while also laying an equal game-high 11 tackles to go with an important goal in the second quarter.
The result was a Geelong domination around stoppages, finishing +17 in the clearance battle (50-33) and +15 at centre clearances (20-5), the biggest differential for the Cats in both these categories across the 2025 season.
Preparing to head to his third Grand Final in the last six years, Blicavs said it was an incredible night and an electric atmosphere.
“It is pretty special, it was amazing,” Blicavs told Cats Media.
“It was a game of ebbs and flows, they started really well and we responded really well, then they came back. It was a really good test.
“I was really proud of how composed we were, especially with ‘Stewy’ and Jack [Henry] going off early, I feel like we had a good steely resolve.
“Some pretty special goals tonight, it was amazing having front row seats and amazing to be a part of.”
A slow start left Geelong facing an early deficit after conceding the opening three goals of the game, the Cats not hitting the front until late in the second quarter.
But as has been a feature of Chris Scott’s team throughout the 2025 season, they were able to stem the bleeding and wrestle back the ascendancy, before making a decisive move either side of the half time break.
A run of six unanswered goals between the 21 minute mark of the second term, and the eighth minute of the third quarter proved to be the game changing moment, putting Geelong well clear with a lead they would never surrender.
Blicavs noted that the momentum shifts were something the Cats had planned for during the week, knowing there would be moments in the game that might not go their way.
“We spoke about it pre-game too, that we knew they were going to come and they were going to have their momentum moments in the game,” Blicavs said.
“For us it was just taking a breath, staying calm and staying in the moment.
“We didn’t really panic when Jack and Stewy went off, I thought especially the defence really fought hard to not let six, seven or eight goals through in that first quarter.
“It set us up, then we were able to get the game back on our terms.”
A big factor once again was the blockbuster crowd, with the Geelong faithful turning up in full force to cheer their team into another Grand Final.
The final tally was 99,567 spectators, the largest non-Grand Final attendance since 1971 and the roar was deafening every time the blue and white Hoops produced magic on the field.
It was a moment to savour for Blicavs, commending the Cats-strong crowd for their support.
“It brings a smile to my face,” Blicavs said.
“These are the things post-career that you will remember, to be a part of this in front of everyone, playing in front of 99,000 is pretty awesome.
“I thought our fans were amazing, Hawks fans were loud and pretty hostile which we knew going in.
“It was amazing, the Hawks fans were booing Baz [Smith] and then our fans respond with cheers, it was a battle in itself.”