WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CLAYTON OLIVER

[McQueen 17,867]

They don't know where he's going, and even if they do, they can't impede him enough to stop him doing what he was going to do in the first place. Love it.

Obviously they were the passages of play where he either got out traffic or dished it off to the best option. I'm sure he would've got pinned for HTB plenty of times as well.

The impressive thing to me was he just seemed have that natural nous to dance his way out of congestion, rather than a JKH who tries admirably, but never looks comfortable in doing so.

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

Obviously they were the passages of play where he either got out traffic or dished it off to the best option. I'm sure he would've got pinned for HTB plenty of times as well.

The impressive thing to me was he just seemed have that natural nous to dance his way out of congestion, rather than a JKH who tries admirably, but never looks comfortable in doing so.

This is probably due to his sub 3 second 20 metre and really good evasive step, JKH has the step but not the break away speed.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

I think he was the safer option out of Parish and Oliver. His highlights (and lets remember how good Jimmy T's looked before we get carried away) reminded me a little bit of Petracca's.

[dazzledavey36 55,335]

So round 1 we potentially have Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca debuting together..

Oh my...

[ILLDieADemon 804]

We are going to have a ferocious tackling midfield.

I like what Roos has done.

[ben russell 764]

A few of the standout things from the highlight package on the MFC website.

- Smashes through contests like a raging bull

- Lays bone-crunching tackles

- Looks like he has a heap of time when he has possession

- Makes good decisions with ball in hand

- Can execute a perfect handpass even whilst getting tackled

- Is excellent at taking overhead marks

- Can push forward and kick goals

Very happy to have this kid at the MFC and here's hoping for a long and successful career.

Edited November 24, 2015 by ben russell

[rjay 25,088]

I think the comparisons to Cripps

- Draft bolter

- Great inside

- Tall and pale

Are a bit lazy. Cripps is amazing at clearances. He's as good as any in the AFL. Oliver is a very good clearance mid at TAC but we don't know much else yet. Cripps is very good at accumulating the ball around the ground through work rate, but that's about all he does away from stoppages.

I see agility, skills, marking (Cripps is a good mark due to his size, not for his size) and a burst of speed from Oliver that I rarely see from Cripps.

I'm not saying he's as good as Cripps. We will be lucky if that's true. But I think he's much different to Cripps despite the similarities. Maybe a cleaner Dane Swan or a slower Dangerfield. There's a bit of Luke Parker about him and a bit of Robbie Gray.

Agree...

[McQueen 17,867]

This is probably due to his sub 3 second 20 metre and really good evasive step, JKH has the step but not the break away speed.

Either or, he's going to have far less time and space next year but there's no doubting Oliver's ability.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

So round 1 we potentially have Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca debuting together..

Oh my...

and Jack Trengove re-debuting

[dazzledavey36 55,335]

You look at the way he is so agressive and crashing into contests not a care in the world for their safety. Screams of Luke Hodge doesn't it.

And i [censored] hate Luke Hodge.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

You look at the way he is so agressive and crashing into contests not a care in the world for their safety. Screams of Luke Hodge doesn't it.

And i [censored] hate Luke Hodge.

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

[Dr. Gonzo 24,297]

This clip gave a better view of him, as we have had a couple of bulls in Moloney and Silvia with little and no awareness his earlier highlight clips didn't show enough. The kid looks to have good awareness and is not afraid to bring teammates into the game or take it on where appropriate.

Yeah the clip indicated he would drop his eyes more than Sylvia or Moloney used to.

[dazzledavey36 55,335]

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.

[Adam The God 30,410]

That is a long seriously impressive clip! Aggressive, knocks teammates out of the way to get the hard ball, plays on all the time, fast, strong, sells a shitload of candy and kicks goals!!!! That's got me pumped!

Seems to play quite a bit like Viney. Has that similar thirst for the pill.

[H_T 3,049]

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.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

I'm super happy with Oliver. The upside seems enormous - he seems the type of player who'll be really exciting to watch crashing into packs, winning the pill and then applying the high octane after burners around the park.

I think Essendon have also done well in landing Parish who'll also turn out to be a really good AFL player.

Edited November 24, 2015 by Ron Burgundy

[blue and red in the head 95]

What will the next head line be?

Melbournes first pick in the 2015 draft has gone down with an acl at first training session

[chook fowler 19,539]

What will the next head line be?

Melbournes first pick in the 2015 draft has gone down with an acl at first training session

For Gods sake........

[Lucifers Hero 40,361]

i actually just went to Footy Wire to compare their stats in regards to averages that are related to the inside mid role, i.e contested possession etc.

Both players have played 50 games, pretty much- Vimey 49, Tyson 50. And Their stats are actually almost identical with each player "one uping" here and there by a decimal point. So to be honest as much as i like to argue the point, i think i will have to call it a draw. They are both as good as an inside mid as one another.

Love the gif!

The difference between Tyson and Viney (love both) is that Viney has serious hurt factor.

Probably more so than anyone in the league atmo so no slight on Tyson.

Viney leaves ops bloodied and bruised wondering what just happened! With no 'beg your pardons'!

Not bad for a 'little' guy...with plenty of attitude!

[Lucifers Hero 40,361]

I'm not saying he's as good as Cripps. We will be lucky if that's true. But I think he's much different to Cripps despite the similarities. Maybe a cleaner Dane Swan or a slower Dangerfield. There's a bit of Luke Parker about him and a bit of Robbie Gray.

Good comparisons and a real compliment to the kid.

Dangerfield, Parker and Gray were 'Big Fish' we went really hard for pre trade.

We missed out on all so now we will grow our own: Oliver!!

...along with Brayshaw, Viney, Petracca, Hogan, Weidman etc etc etc etc

Let the good times role!

Ok, it is all potential but I am enjoying the post trade morning!!

Edited November 24, 2015 by Lucifer's Hero

[Fitz Fitzpatrick 886]

I do seem to be the only one with this opinion but i reckon we've blown it this year. spending next years pick to get in on this years pool of talent will bite us i have a feeling.

Of course i dont know but its the feeling i get. Oliver is over rated and Weideman is injury prone and again, over rated. It seems once a name is thrown out there , the hype snowballs and suddenly he is a future gun but nobody really knows how it got to that point.

I know smokies come from nowhere but when choosing pick 3 , there really shouldn't be as many question marks on players skills, endurance, nous etc as there were this year.

I really hope I'm wrong but at this point i feel the trade and draft period has been a bust this year. we picked up some scraps in the trade period and marketed the result as win by selling next years pick.

Not convinced.

Edited November 24, 2015 by Munga

[olisik 4,060]

I do seem to be the only one with this opinion but i reckon we've blown it this year. spending next years pick to get in on this years pool of talent will bite us i have a feeling.

Of course i dont know but its the feeling i get. Oliver is over rated and Weideman is injury prone and again, over rated. It seems once a name is thrown out there , the hype snowballs and suddenly he is a future gun but nobody really knows how it got to that point.

I know smokies come from nowhere but when choosing pick 3 , there really shouldn't be as many question marks on players skills, endurance, nous etc as there were this year.

I really hope I'm wrong but at this point i feel the trade and draft period has been a bust this year. we picked up some scraps in the trade period and marketed the result as win by selling next years pick.

Not convinced.

Watts is a FA this year. If he leaves we may squeeze back into first round

[jackaub 1,402]

I do seem to be the only one with this opinion but i reckon we've blown it this year. spending next years pick to get in on this years pool of talent will bite us i have a feeling.

Of course i dont know but its the feeling i get. Oliver is over rated and Weideman is injury prone and again, over rated. It seems once a name is thrown out there , the hype snowballs and suddenly he is a future gun but nobody really knows how it got to that point.

I know smokies come from nowhere but when choosing pick 3 , there really shouldn't be as many question marks on players skills, endurance, nous etc as there were this year.

I really hope I'm wrong but at this point i feel the trade and draft period has been a bust this year. we picked up some scraps in the trade period and marketed the result as win by selling next years pick.

Not convinced.

No You are not alone. Wanted Parish and McKay I thought they were more credentialed selections. Dont trust guys that zoom up the list late and always worry about pre existing injuries

[rjay 25,088]

I do seem to be the only one with this opinion but i reckon we've blown it this year. spending next years pick to get in on this years pool of talent will bite us i have a feeling.

Of course i dont know but its the feeling i get. Oliver is over rated and Weideman is injury prone and again, over rated. It seems once a name is thrown out there , the hype snowballs and suddenly he is a future gun but nobody really knows how it got to that point.

I know smokies come from nowhere but when choosing pick 3 , there really shouldn't be as many question marks on players skills, endurance, nous etc as there were this year.

I really hope I'm wrong but at this point i feel the trade and draft period has been a bust this year. we picked up some scraps in the trade period and marketed the result as win by selling next years pick.

Not convinced.

We wait and see 'Munga'...we are now in the honeymoon period and won't get an idea until the games start rolling around.

It may be a few years until we get a reasonable assessment of the strategy...

Watts is a FA this year. If he leaves we may squeeze back into first round

Doubtful

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I love the fact that we didn't get the player that was hyped up all year, how many of those players have actually gone on to be become stars?