AFTER Mark Blicavs played his first VFL game for the Cats in 2012, there were doubts over whether he would ever play an AFL game.

But in the past two and half seasons, Blicavs has not only defied the odds by becoming a regular at footy's highest level, he has emerged as one of the most dynamic players in the competition.

This season, the 24-year-old has been Geelong's everywhere man. He has played as a ruckman, as a running midfielder, as a key defender, and has even had the odd stint up forward.

He has been by far at his most dangerous when in the role as a tall midfielder, accumulating plenty of the ball but also helping out at ruck contests as the third man up.

READ: Blicavs smashes third man up record

Blicavs has played in each of the Cats' 12 games, and his stats are very impressive. He is averaging 19 disposals and 14 hit-outs per game.

He is also averaging six tackles per match. In fact, his season's tally of 73 tackles is the equal-fourth-best in the league behind West Coast's Matt Priddis (87).

I'm just about certain that Blicavs would be leading Geelong's best and fairest, the 'Carji' Greeves Medal, at the moment.

However, it has been a funny old season for the Cats, with many players enjoying patches of good form but not playing at their best on a consistent basis.

So coming up with a top five is no easy feat.

My hunch is that evergreen defender Corey Enright is probably running second.

The 33-year-old started the season slowly, but he soon rediscovered his best form. His performance against Port Adelaide in round 11 (game-high 29-disposals and career-high 16 intercept possessions) was simply outstanding.

Enright is averaging 22 disposals and seven marks per game. He has taken the second-most marks (88) in the competition.

I have another backman, Harry Taylor, in third place.

Some pundits have been critical of Taylor at times this season, but he continues to be the lynchpin of Geelong's evolving back six.

He starred against Richmond in round five and was best on ground in the win over Essendon in round 10.

Taylor has taken the most marks in the competition (92), and a decent percentage of those marks have thwarted opposition attacks.

Deciding on the players who might be running fourth and fifth was akin to throwing darts at a dartboard while blindfolded.

Among those considered were Mitch Duncan (was probably leading the award when he suffered his foot injury), Tom Hawkins (hasn’t kicked as many goals as expected but has done plenty of hard stuff in the forward line), Steven Motlop (has been inconsistent but very good when on song) and Jed Bews and Jackson Thurlow (among the most improved players at the club).

I also took into account the solid form of Mathew Stokes (among the shining lights in recent weeks), Jared Rivers and Tom Lonergan (dependable defenders who keep getting the job done), Cory Gregson (has played every game in his debut season and has kicked 10 goals), Steve Johnson (very good in recent weeks after a slow start) and Cameron Guthrie (has split his time between the midfield and the backline and has been a reasonably consistent performer).

In the end, however, I went for Josh Caddy and Joel Selwood.

Both have played every game this year, and both have both been regular vote-getters in the AFL Coaches' Association Champion Player of the Year Award.

Caddy had a slowish start to the season but has been a key contributor in the midfield in most of the Cats' six victories.

He is averaging 20 disposals and five tackles per game. He has also won plenty of clearances.

The skipper, meanwhile, made a very bright start to the season. He is the Cats' leading ball-winner once again this year, but he has been slowed down in recent weeks by close attention from taggers.

Selwood won his third 'Carji' last year, but he will need to return to his best to win the award for a fourth time when the vote count is held on Thursday, October 8.

MY TOP FIVE IN THE B&F AFTER 12 GAMES
1. Mark Blicavs
2. Corey Enright
3. Harry Taylor
4. Josh Caddy
5. Joel Selwood

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