Blicavs on reaching 300 games

I think I will look back on it and it will be a great achievement.

I am trying to keep the week as normal as possible, but it is pretty special seeing my family and teammates in this press conference. I have got a few coming on Friday night, so it will be very special.

It has been a good journey, 'Scotty' always mentions and says to enjoy it and make the most of every moment because your career is over quicker than you think. So I have really tried to buy into that and embrace everything that footy has thrown at me throughout my journey.

I look back and think jeez it has gone really, really quick, but it has been awesome.

I will look back on it with some really special memories, it is a good achievement and one I am proud of. 

Scott on Blicavs' milestone

I think enough of the story is known for everyone to appreciate how unique that is, and I use that word literally. This is a one of a kind situation to my knowledge in the AFL.

Even if I did spend 15 minutes explaining it all, you still wouldn't understand the depth of the story well enough, or at least to see it from our perspective. I guess what we are asking for is for you to take our word for how remarkable this is.

300 games is remarkable for anyone, but the way Mark has done it is next level. I am going to broaden it, it is next level in sport.

He is hating all of this and I respect it in a way, and I have gotten better of this over time, just pausing ever so briefly to recognise the great moments in the journey.

We just get forced to move onto the next thing so quickly, but this is one of those where I think we all should pause for a little while and recognise it. 

Blicavs on his first drills at Geelong

I think when I first got to the club, I got there in mid-2012 and had a mini pre-season in July.

Stevie Johnson was suspended at the time for whatever it was, punching on with Ballantyne or Steve Baker or whoever it was.

I did a mini pre-season with him and we had a lot of running drills, he wasn't rapt with that. He like more of the wrestling and not the running stuff, so I maybe did hold back a bit with Stevie.

Running was my favourite thing, the 2km time trial was my favourite pre-season drill so I gave it my best. 

Scott on Blicavs' versatility

I don't ask players to be completely selfless, we ask players to give of themselves on the basis that long term, they will be better for doing those things. I think he is the perfect example.

Maybe in the early days we asked him to do some things that we weren't sure that he could absolutely do, but certainly in the last 280 games after that first season, it became clear to us that it was almost a challenge. Let's see if he can do this, oh yeah he can do that as well.

I never really thought of it as him completely giving of himself, because it was just always so clear how important it was to the team.

But the one thing I will say is it is nice to have players who are open minded to anything. We have thrown some ridiculous suggestions at him in the past, especially in the early days because he was just like a puppy dog and he couldn't wait.  

Blicavs on his first meeting with Geelong

It was the end of 2011, it was the Guthrie's that got me a trial here. So when 'Scotty' mentioned that 'Wellsy' was really open, it was Andrew Guthrie, Ben and Cam because Cam was on the list, they got me a chance here.

I did my trial, I think the club was excited and the first meeting that I had with 'Scotty,' I remember coming home and telling Mum and Dad that I did the trial. I thought the club wanted to sign me and Dad said yeah okay, see how you go.

Then the next week we had a meeting at home in Sunbury, three or four Ford territories with 'Scotty,' 'Wellsy' and Neil Balme rock up on the front lawn. Dad thought okay this is a bit more serious than I thought.

The specifics of it I am not really sure, but the whole club were really welcoming and them wanting you to be the best you can as a person and player from the get go.

That was always my goal, that if I am trying to be the best player and person I can be, I will be successful on field and off field. That was driven pretty early on. 

Scott on the recruitment of Blicavs

There are so many aspects to it.

There is the obvious one, this is where Stephen Wells absolutely should get the credit for the way he thinks about recruiting. Maybe Geelong to an extent has been forced into this position over the last couple of decades, to think outside the square a bit.

But I think if it is not unique, it is certainly very rare that you get a suggestion associated with the club, that you should go back and have a look at this guy. He is a middle-distance runner because when he was 12 or 13, he played with my son and had a bit of talent.

But 'Wellsy' followed that all the way through, I can't think of another example like that, certainly in my time.

A lot of people now think about tall players who can really run, and compare them to 'Blitz.'