WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CLAYTON OLIVER

[beelzebub 23,369]

The first thing he needs to do is start calling himself Clay. It's much better than Clayton.

How about "BRICK"...he's going to hit the opposition like a ton of them a big red-brick !!

[Chris 2,892]

Have my reservations on this one. The highlights clip is seriously impressive but it really appeared he was playing a grade below where he should have been or an age group below. He seems big, strong, and had heaps of time to do what he liked. If it has been that way for him for his junior life then he is in for a rude shock at AFL level where he will be small (at least initially).

Hopefully he comes through and delivers the goods but I will wait and see before getting too exited.

[dazzledavey36 54,911]

A few things stand out for me when watching Oliver

• His ability to break tackles, get his arms free and handball out of congestion over players heads
• His ability to take contested marks
• His goal kicking ability as a mid
• The way he stops and props and allows his opponents to be drawn to him to allow his team mate to be free so then he can fire out a handball (Think Sam Mitchell)

In one game he kicked 6 as a mid, he got 30/30 for the goal kicking in the draft combine meaning he can slot them on both feet. He has all the right attributes to be a massive player for us going forward. Sure, Parish has more speed, he can play inside & out but in terms of his contested marks, goal kicking and ability to break tackles and handball over people to clear congestion Oliver is the clear winner for me here.

Oliver has more speed the Parish.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Have my reservations on this one. The highlights clip is seriously impressive but it really appeared he was playing a grade below where he should have been or an age group below. He seems big, strong, and had heaps of time to do what he liked. If it has been that way for him for his junior life then he is in for a rude shock at AFL level where he will be small (at least initially).

Hopefully he comes through and delivers the goods but I will wait and see before getting too exited.

This is what many thought about Wines as well. I'm not concerned.

Oliver has more speed the Parish.

Particularly impressive given the excess weight he's been carrying as well. His speed should only improve.

[dee-tox 4,835]

''Inside'' midfielder? Conjures up images of Prisoner.

[Spin-it-to-Goodwin-it 579]

Really? Seemed Worsfold couldn't read his name out quick enough.

Maybe Worsfold did but he isn't the Recruiter is he?

I noticed a lot of tension in that camp, with Worsfold and Dodoro having a disagreement over a later selection.

[monoccular 17,428]

I personally see a Luke Parker clone when i look at Oliver.

Thats who i compared him to the other week after watching him this year.

Agree

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Have my reservations on this one. The highlights clip is seriously impressive but it really appeared he was playing a grade below where he should have been or an age group below. He seems big, strong, and had heaps of time to do what he liked. If it has been that way for him for his junior life then he is in for a rude shock at AFL level where he will be small (at least initially).

He played in the VFL and by all reports handled himself very well.

[Gorgoroth 12,950]

Must say I've been a little underwhelmed with him. But I'll hold judgement til a few years into his career.

[bandicoot 1,395]

I already stated I didn't really want to get Parish, this was based on my own perceptions of his highlights and profile more than any inside knowledge. For this reason alone I'm happy we looked elsewhere. I like the way Oliver seems to play. He plays like a more physical version of Dom Tyson in packs with head and ball fakes to create space for himself and his kicking seems effective. He is also a very willing tackler and good overhead, but he may take at least a year before he has the aerobic capacity to play many midfield minutes.

It isn't really too important because he won't be a dashing line-breaking player at AFL level I wouldn't expect, but he is the worst bouncer of a footy I think I've ever seen in the AFL. It's almost comical how bad he looks at it, but like I said, I doubt it will be much of a factor.

My concern with Parish was his size. This is the same concern that the recruiters had.

If you don't weigh more than 80kg then you will get bowled over in the midfield.

Top 10 Mids need to come into AFL and have an impact from day one. i.e Brayshaw.

Oliver will stand in the centre square in round 1 and will match it with the best.

[Gator 17,332]

I know he has not had any media training - and many posters will say that his ability to answer questions has nothing to do with his football ability- but I was a bit concerned that he seemed to have turned up on the night with no expectations at all. An early pick - and a long-term senior player must have a calm self belief - and the ability to think clearly under pressure.

On the basis of his interview he doesn't seem to have got his mind around being an AFL footballer yet. I recall JImmy Toumpas " not really believing" that he would soon be playing on the G. As it turned he seemed a bit "overwhelmed " whenever he got the ball in a tight situation . I just hope that underneath that boyish reaction,Clayton has an unshakable belief in himself - and the confidence "to take the game on" which showed up in his highlight reel

Nobody expected him to be a standout player this year. From here on - he will have to deal with the high expectations that come with an early pick. Just hope he quickly settles into his "new skin" as a high profile player.

He was just being self effacing.

[Gator 17,332]

He played in the VFL and by all reports handled himself very well.

I was about to post the same.

Jason Taylor says on the club's website video that when he played in the VFL for Richmond he stood out as the class player on the ground. He turned 18 the week before that first game.

[DeeSpencer 25,691]

The thing that makes me feel comfortable with Oliver is:

- As a prospect he's really raw. Heaps to work on with the body and developing his game

But

- His production is there. It's not just half a season, it's most of the season, winning the league B+F, playing 2 solid VFL games.

The bolter narrative is ridiculous. From those who watch TAC he's been well in the first round calculations for a large part of the year and just kept getting better and better. Then turned up to draft camp looking like an AFL footballer (or an 18 year old one).

[Ted Lasso 19,514]

100% agree. We gave up next years 1st rounder in supposedly a strong draft, plus this year's 2nd round pick to upgrade our early picks. Unlike the Tyson/Salem trade which made perfect sense, the end result this year has left me unenthused.

Oliver looks like he'll be a good AFL player, but doesn't have the skillset of Brayshaw and Petracca based on his junior career, so doesn't look like he has "elite" potential. I hope I'm wrong.

Lot of question marks over Weideman, with his injury history and poor beep test results.

The players that we traded for aren't game changers.

I hope to be proven wrong with Oliver and Weideman, and they become A graders, but I have my reservations.

if we play finals next years first rounder might only be pick 12, so we've given that up for a mid and a key forward now that we can develop

I reckon the club feels we have the young core now, it's time to develop them and start to climb at a serious rate.

[Slartibartfast 17,273]

He got the things I rate highly:

• clean hands
• great lateral movement
• can get the ball
• makes good decisions

What's not to like?

[beelzebub 23,369]

Something some may like to ponder.

Some has been made of Clayton "Brick" Oliver's non appearance at the U18's..

Given he got to play VFL and handled himself very capable I really couldn't care. Im always wary kiddy ball has some restrictions about how the game is played.. the VFL is more like the real footy they are coming to. Often we see some talented kids fall over once they step up. Oliver already knows what thi is about in a way. That has to be good and think its one of the reasons he was drafted. He CAN play...not he 'might' be able to.

[jnrmac 20,061]

I see a bit of Swan and a bit of Voss in him in that extended highlights package. Liked him from his initial package that olisik posted.

Most noticeable is his body transformation in the last month or two, really impressive at Combine. The 3 weeks where he worked extremely hard in lead up to Combine shows a commitment to improve himself.

He'll thrive within the Dees new environment. Looking very much forward to his progress.

Good pick up...

[Deespicable 2,726]

I was thinking about Oliver all night and the video.

The ball drop when he bounced it on one of his charging runs reminded me of another video that I'm sure we've all seen - anyone else see Ron Barassi in him?

I'd give him No.31.

There's also a little bit of John Fidge as a junior in him.

I reckon the up side to him is enormous and just shows that we have a great recruiting guy in Tubby Taylor guiding the ship.

The Parish video shows him to be a cocky kid - a little full of himself after two great seasons in juniors. On top of the fact that Parish is small, it just shows that we are now aware of the modern day player requirements and tackling is now a core part.

I can guarantee you that if we went back to 2012 and Taylor was in charge, he would have fought like hell to retain Wines.

But at least now it doesn't matter - he has drafted us a tough midfield with not one fancy whous (sorry can't spell it), although all our tough boys have their own tricks.

The only job now is for our footy manager is to keep them all at the club and make sure Hoges and Weids don't get too big-headed.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I was thinking about Oliver all night and the video.

The ball drop when he bounced it on one of his charging runs reminded me of another video that I'm sure we've all seen - anyone else see Ron Barassi in him?

I'd give him No.31.

There's also a little bit of John Fidge as a junior in him.

I reckon the up side to him is enormous and just shows that we have a great recruiting guy in Tubby Taylor guiding the ship.

The Parish video shows him to be a cocky kid - a little full of himself after two great seasons in juniors. On top of the fact that Parish is small, it just shows that we are now aware of the modern day player requirements and tackling is now a core part.

I can guarantee you that if we went back to 2012 and Taylor was in charge, he would have fought like hell to retain Wines.

But at least now it doesn't matter - he has drafted us a tough midfield with not one fancy whous (sorry can't spell it), although all our tough boys have their own tricks.

The only job now is for our footy manager is to keep them all at the club and make sure Hoges and Weids don't get too big-headed.

That's the only thing about his game that made me squirm, he almost throws it when he bounces.

[bandicoot 1,395]

He played in the VFL and by all reports handled himself very well.

He played for Richmond against Box Hill and had 6 kicks, 10 handballs, 5 marks and kicked a behind.

That's amazing considering he didn't have a pre season, is 17 yo and has never played with that squad before.

Against Williamstown he had 4 kicks, 9 handballs, 2 marks and 4 tackles. He was also named in Richmond's best for the day.

How many TAC cup player could do that?

What it shows is that he is good enough for VFL at 17 without a preseason.

[beelzebub 23,369]

He played for Richmond against Box Hill and had 6 kicks, 10 handballs, 5 marks and kicked a behind.

That's amazing considering he didn't have a pre season, is 17 yo and has never played with that squad before.

Against Williamstown he had 4 kicks, 9 handballs, 2 marks and 4 tackles. He was also named in Richmond's best for the day.

How many TAC cup player could do that?

What it shows is that he is good enough for VFL at 17 without a preseason.

exactly....he leapfrogged over many just because of this..

[olisik 4,060]

Rising star

Oliver vs Petracca

[Devil is in the Detail 883]

Rising star

Oliver vs Petracca

[beelzebub 23,369]

Once this kid loses a bit of the puppy...and whacks a bit more solid on him....he'll be scary out there........how goods that !!

[beelzebub 23,369]

reckon we will...2 at least