Blakey bursts out of the blocks
Written by NSW Australian Football History Society Inc. in Collaboration with the AFL Coaches’ Association
Nick Blakey had an outstanding game with his electrifying run-and-carry out of defence in the Sydney Swans’ 33-point win over Adelaide at the Sydney Cricket Ground in round 19.
The performance scored him six votes for the Carey Bunton medal for the best NSW player in the AFL based on the AFL Coaches Association voting for the champion player in the AFL this season.
“Nick always takes the game on” according to his Under 19 club and Swans Academy coach Steven Chichester, the former East Sydney champion who is still involved with the club.
“He has always been a great runner; he was a school (Waverly College) 1500m champion. He’s such a great runner that he can play anywhere, and he’s always worked very hard”, “Chitty” told be before heading off to run a marathon around Uluru for a charity event.
“When I was coaching the Under 19s he was such a good leader. He was always looking to bring the group together, and do something special, just like he did when he ran down the Adelaide forward (Ned McHenry) in last Saturday’s game for the Swans”, he added.
“I recall his first senior game for the club (UNSW-Eastern Suburbs), he kicked seven goals on debut at full forward, then he went to play for the Swans NEAFL team and got drafted”.
Nick was drafted with selection #10 at the 2018 national draft by the Sydney Swans. He had the choice of three clubs – Fitzroy, North Melbourne or the Swans. He chose the Swans.
His father John had played for both Fitzroy from 1985-1992 (135 games) and North Melbourne (224 games) from 1993-2002 including two premierships. This made Nick eligible for the Lions and North under the father-son rule. However, as an Academy player he could elect to be drafted by the Swans.
At the time his father was the Coaching Director and Head of Development with the Swans. John Blakey moved to North Melbourne as senior assistant coach in 2020.
Nick has now played 46 games and kicked twenty-nine goals after making his debut in 2019.
He has now fully established himself on the half-back flank as a senior player.
Meanwhile, Sydney Swans skipper Callum Mills (56 votes) still leads this year’s Carey Bunton medal count from Adelaide Crows’ full-forward Taylor Walker on 44 votes with Gold Coast co-captain Jarrad Witts on 33.
CAREY BUNTON MEDAL
VOTES ROUND 19
56 Callum Mills (Mosman Swans) – Sydney Swans (Rd 19 1 vote v ADEL)
44 Taylor Walker (Norths – Broken Hill) – Adelaide)
33 Jarrad Witts (Sydney University) – Gold Coast
33 Todd Marshall (Deniliquin Rams) – Port Adelaide
26 Isaac Heeney (Cardiff) – Sydney Swans
25 Tom Hawkins (Finley) – Geelong (Rd 19 3 votes v PORT)
21 Lachie Schultz (Moama) – Fremantle
20 Matt Kennedy (Collingullie) – Carlton
14 Errol Gulden (UNSW-Eastern Suburbs) – Sydney Swans
14 Nick Blakey (UNSW-Eastern Suburbs) – Sydney Swans (Rd 19 6 votes v ADEL)
11 Isaac Smith (Cootamundra) – Geelong
11 Isaac Cumming (Norths – Broken Hill) – GWS Giants
10 Elliott Himmelberg (Mangoplah CUE) – Adelaide
10 Harry Himmelberg (Mangoplah CUE) – GWS Giants (Rd 19 1 vote v CAR)
9 Jeremy Finlayson (Culcairn) – Port Adelaide) (Rd 19 2 votes v GEE)
8 Luke Breust (Temora) – Hawthorn
6 James Peatling (Pennant Hills) – GWS Giants
5 Harry Perryman (Collingullie) – GWS Giants
3 Dougal Howard (Wagga Tigers) – St Kilda
2 Charlie Spargo (Albury Tigers) – Melbourne
1 Matt Flynn (Narrandera) – GWS Giants
MOHR MEDAL
GOALS ROUND AFTER ROUND 19
49 Tom Hawkins (Finley) – Geelong (R 19 4 goals)
39 Taylor Walker (Norths – Broken Hill) – Adelaide (R 19 3 goals)
38 Todd Marshall (Deniliquin) – Port Adelaide (R 19 2 goals)
37 Isaac Heeney (Cardiff) – Sydney Swans (R 19 2 goals)
34 Luke Breust (Temora) – Hawthorn (R 19 2 goals)
25 Lachie Schultz (Moama) – Fremantle
