The Geelong Football Club congratulate Mark Blicavs, as he prepares to play his 300th AFL game this Friday night against the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium.
Blicavs is set to become only the 111th player in V/AFL history to reach the milestone, while also becoming just the second player in the competition’s history to achieve the feat after starting their career on a rookie list. He also becomes the 77th player to reach 300 games as a one club player.
Widely regarded as one of the most versatile players to play the game, Blicavs becomes just the eighth Geelong player to reach the milestone, joining an exclusive club that includes Sam Newman, Ian Nankervis, Corey Enright, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins and Mitch Duncan.
Prior to his milestone week, Blicavs sat down with Cats Media and reminisced on his journey, noting that it is an achievement that he will relish considering where his AFL journey started.
"It is something that I am really proud of," Blicavs said.
"I think I will look back on it really fondly when my time is done, there is still a few games and things that I want to tick off.
"I have amazing moments and memories from the journey with my teammates, coaches from the last 15 or so years. I have had many great teammates, friends and mentors.
"It has gone very quick, Scotty always mentions to try and make the most of my time here, because it goes quicker than you think.
"It does, but I have just tried to make the most of every moment and there has been some great ones."
Blicavs was selected by Geelong with pick 54 in the 2012 Rookie Draft and wasted no time making a strong impact, rewarded with his AFL debut in the opening round of the 2013 season, when the Cats faced Hawthorn on Easter Monday.
He would go on to play 22 games in his debut season, a sign of his durability to come with Blicavs only missing 18 matches since his debut on the way to 300 AFL games.
Blicavs is a two time Carji Greeves Medallist, winning Geelong’s best and fairest award in 2015 and 2018. He was awarded Cats life membership in 2022, the same year he became a Premiership player and earned his first All Australian selection.
Along the journey, he would play alongside both Cameron and Zach Guthrie who were family friends from a young age, with Blicavs noting that the Guthrie family was pivotal in helping him get his chance with Geelong.
"Andrew [Guthrie] was my Under 11s Sunbury Lions coach, so the Blicavs and Guthries all grew up together as family friends," Blicavs told Cats Media.
"We were rapt for Cam when he got drafted here. Andrew mentioned a couple of times for me to come to a trial and after the flag year of 2011, I did that trial.
"Then the support of Ben, Cam, Zach and Josh. I am very indebted, I can't thank the Guthrie's enough.
"We have got a great relationship between our families and that will continue."
A key pillar in Geelong’s sustained period of success, Blicavs has only played in one season out of 14 where the Cats have finished with more losses than wins, with his entire career being played under Chris Scott, just the second coach/player pairing to feature in 300 games.
Blicavs has also played in 29 Finals matches to date, the equal ninth most in V/AFL history with only three players – Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor and Shaun Burgoyne – to have played more Finals in their first 300 games.
Across his career Blicavs has played alongside 116 teammates, having featured with Jake Kolodjashnij, Tom Stewart, Jed Bews, Jack Henry and Rhys Stanley most of the current playing squad.
Blicavs will reach his 300th AFL game in Round 6 as the Cats prepare to take on the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium.
