Sam Blease (No.46)
Career
2011
Disposals: 74 (14.8 average per match)
Tackles: 5
Todd Viney’s season assessment
Bleasey was good. We finally got to see him play. He played a lot of games at VFL level, and he was in really good form early. He got a game in the AFL as a sub and then forced his way back into the team late in the year. He got a Rising Star nomination, so he’s really come along nicely in his consistency. Another really good pre-season will hold him in good stead.
Round-by-round assessment
Comments made by 2011 Melbourne coaching staff members Mark Williams, Brad Gotch and Kelly O’Donnell
AFL: Round 1 v Sydney Swans
Did not play (played in VFL practice match)
VFL: Round 1 v Geelong
Sammy started a little bit slow. I had him on Shannon Byrnes, who had five touches in the first 10 minutes. I then moved Sammy off him and spoke to him about my expectations of him, and then he was very good. He started to play tighter - defending first and then attacking. Sammy showed plenty of run - some players looked slow around him, which is quite amazing. He got better as the game went on. Brad Gotch
Bleasey did really well defensively, but didn’t show enough run. I’ve been getting into him about the defensive side of his game. But I was pretty happy with him overall. If I sacrifice a bit of his run to get him improving the defensive side of his game, then hopefully we’ll get that right balance. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 3 v North Ballarat
Sam played his best game for us. He had 28 possessions and played off half-back/wing. He ran the lines and did the hard stuff. He was defensively good and set up at least half a dozen goals. His attack from defence, and run through the lines was sensational. It was a really promising performance, and one we’ve been waiting for. We know he can do it and he showed it, so he’ll get a lot of confidence from that. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 4 - Bye
VFL: Round 5 - Frankston
Sammy had an interesting game. He got concussed early after Juice Newton and his opponent crashed into him, as they went for a mark. So Sam copped knees in the back of the head from both players. He tried to come back on, but he’s under a bit of a cloud and had to go to hospital later on. He still had nine possessions and set up a couple of goals when he was on. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 6 v Northern Bullants
Injured: concussion
VFL: Round 7 v Bendigo Bombers
From an attacking point of view, for a half-back flanker to kick two goals and miss one by a whisker, it was a very exciting game from Sam. His run-and-carry was very good, and now it’s just a matter of concentrating on some of his defensive work and he’ll get better at that. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 8 - Bye
VFL: Round 9 v Williamstown
Bleasey was a good player. He started in the backline, then went to the wing and kicked a goal as a midfielder. Sam was thrown around a bit and he did well in the third quarter in the midfield, which was good. Brad Gotch
AFL: Round 11 v Essendon (emergency)/VFL: Round 10 v Sandringham
Sam Blease had 28 touches. He had a ripper game, and I think he had seven or eight tackles as well. So, he had a real breakout game, as far as putting everything together, playing back, playing mid, playing wing, kicked a goal - he’d have been rapt. And, on that ground, you wouldn’t have expected it from him - a tight ground with not much space, but with his leg speed he took them on and was able to break them open a little bit, especially going into the breeze. His run was so important. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 11 v Collingwood
He’s not the same Sam as we’ve seen over the past few weeks, unfortunately. We saw some of his talents in attacking mode, but he’s been really good defensively and from a tackling and physical pressure perspective - he just dropped off a bit this week. He’s been up for a long time - he just couldn’t get himself mentally to the game. So, hopefully he’ll bounce back this week. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 12 v Coburg Tigers
Sam had 27 touches, and we needed him to run through the lines, especially into the breeze. He was one who helped us get three goals in the second quarter by his run and carry. So he was really consistent on the day, apart from one brain fade when he came to the attacking side. Brad Gotch
AFL: Round 14 v Richmond (emergency)
AFL: Round 15 v Western Bulldogs
It was great for Sam to play his first game. We were all very excited for him. He came on, won the ball well and used his pace to run and carry the ball. He easily adjusted to the tempo of the game, and this experience will help Sam understand the requirements of senior football. Mark Williams
VFL: Round 15 v Box Hill Hawks
Sam struggled a bit early - not really his type of conditions, when it’s wet and greasy, and we couldn’t really get his run and clean possession and kicking going - all the attributes that he’s got. He had a good third quarter, with eight possessions, but he didn’t do a lot in the other quarters. He stuck to his guns - he could have not done anything, but he found some way to find it in the third quarter. It just started to dry out a little bit in the third, and then in the last it got dark again. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 16 v Frankston
Sam started really well, and had lots of touches in the midfield and off half-back. We gave him a specific defensive role, but he let his man get away from him, and faded a bit as the game went on. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 17 - Bye
VFL: Round 18 v Geelong
Defensively, he was disappointing. He did a couple of things nice late in the game as a winger, when he worked harder and too the game on with his run. Brad Gotch
VFL: Round 19 v Sandringham
Sammy was on early, showing a great attitude and commitment, and really making a statement. He was diving in, laying strong tackles, which is an area he has made big improvements with this season - then we observed his trademark running as well, so his effort was really good to see. Brad Gotch
AFL: Round 21 v West Coast Eagles
Defensively he got caught out at times on transition. But Sam had a much better game than his first one against the Bulldogs in round 15. Offensively, he was excellent. He took the game on, showed great composure under pressure and used the ball well. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 22 v Richmond
The attacking part of Sam’s game was exciting. His style reflects the way we want to play, but he needs to continually work on his defensive game and his involvement and concentration. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 23 v Gold Coast Suns
Sam was defensively much better. He had four spoils and tackled aggressively. Offensively, he was outstanding. He had seven rebound 50s, 15 handball receives and took the game on at every opportunity. He displayed great composure and used the ball well. Mark Williams
AFL: Round 24 v Port Adelaide
Sam was concussed early and had no impact on the game. Mark Williams
