1 hour ago, Petraccattack said:

 

He started up forward last season and looked fine.

And its common knowledge hes the best athlete at the club, and by a fair way.

I thought he actually looked lost up forward last year.  He played 3 games & averaged 8 touches, 1 mark & 1 behind per game so he has a fair way to go. 

After seeing Clayton Oliver at last weeks practice match I'm starting to think he is a serious chance to play early in the season and even round 1. IMO he was the second best player from stoppages last week only behind Viney.  Players like AVB were better with their whole contribution but Oliver looked like a clearance machine.

Really looking forward to seeing what he does in the NAB series.

2 minutes ago, Baghdad Bob said:

After seeing Clayton Oliver at last weeks practice match I'm starting to think he is a serious chance to play early in the season and even round 1. IMO he was the second best player from stoppages last week only behind Viney.  Players like AVB were better with their whole contribution but Oliver looked like a clearance machine.

Really looking forward to seeing what he does in the NAB series.

The good thing is too, as that type of player he is naturally always around the ball so it will be unlikely that he will go missing for long periods of time during games.

31 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

The good thing is too, as that type of player he is naturally always around the ball so it will be unlikely that he will go missing for long periods of time during games.

Like Brayshaw, he'll spend a lot of time in the forward-line this year.

39 minutes ago, Baghdad Bob said:

After seeing Clayton Oliver at last weeks practice match I'm starting to think he is a serious chance to play early in the season and even round 1. IMO he was the second best player from stoppages last week only behind Viney.  Players like AVB were better with their whole contribution but Oliver looked like a clearance machine.

Really looking forward to seeing what he does in the NAB series.

He was taken as being our Brayshaw of last year's draft. So far he appears to be living up to it.

1 minute ago, ProDee said:

Like Brayshaw, he'll spend a lot of time in the forward-line this year.

I haven't seen enough of Oliver to really know but Brayshaw was value last year because he's such a smart footballer by both hand and foot.  His vision and decision making is also elite and he was damaging off the half forward line.  From what I saw on Friday Oliver was very good inside with an ability to find the ball in traffic but I just wonder if he's got the other strings to his bow to play that half forward role as well as others.  I guess what I'm saying is I'm not sure if he's good enough to play the role Brayshaw did last year and if he can't get a go as a genuine inside mid perhaps he won't play as much as I think.  

Oliver will have more competition than Brayshaw did for that spot too with Kent being fit and Kennedy coming to the club.  Petracca and Trengove also will make it more difficult for him to get a game.

Might have to amend my thinking based on what you've said.

4 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Like Brayshaw, he'll spend a lot of time in the forward-line this year.

I am not so sure of that. We have plenty of players to play up forward  and IMO, he will get bursts on the ball and then be rotated off the bench.

Leaving out the talls like Jesse, Frost, Watts, Dawes and Pedersen, we have the likes of Kent, Garlett, JKH, Harmes, ANB, VDB, Stretch, Kennedy and the new kid Petracca, among others to fit in up forward.

I see the talent of Oliver at this stage, being in his burst play, not his marking or opportunistic goal scoring.

 

4 minutes ago, Baghdad Bob said:

I haven't seen enough of Oliver to really know but Brayshaw was value last year because he's such a smart footballer by both hand and foot.  His vision and decision making is also elite and he was damaging off the half forward line.  From what I saw on Friday Oliver was very good inside with an ability to find the ball in traffic but I just wonder if he's got the other strings to his bow to play that half forward role as well as others.  I guess what I'm saying is I'm not sure if he's good enough to play the role Brayshaw did last year and if he can't get a go as a genuine inside mid perhaps he won't play as much as I think.  

Oliver will have more competition than Brayshaw did for that spot too with Kent being fit and Kennedy coming to the club.  Petracca and Trengove also will make it more difficult for him to get a game.

Might have to amend my thinking based on what you've said.

Very nice problem to have BB.

From memory it is a long time since we have been blessed with this situation.

1 minute ago, Baghdad Bob said:

I haven't seen enough of Oliver to really know but Brayshaw was value last year because he's such a smart footballer by both hand and foot.  His vision and decision making is also elite and he was damaging off the half forward line.  From what I saw on Friday Oliver was very good inside with an ability to find the ball in traffic but I just wonder if he's got the other strings to his bow to play that half forward role as well as others.  I guess what I'm saying is I'm not sure if he's good enough to play the role Brayshaw did last year and if he can't get a go as a genuine inside mid perhaps he won't play as much as I think.  

Oliver will have more competition than Brayshaw did for that spot too with Kent being fit and Kennedy coming to the club.  Petracca and Trengove also will make it more difficult for him to get a game.

Might have to amend my thinking based on what you've said.

He won't have the engine to run "both ways" as well as some of our other mids.

When he rested "off ball" last Friday he went to the forward-line and was manned up by James Hunt.  He was quieter, but this was as much to do with the dominance of the blue team.

Also, you may be overlooking the fact that Oliver kicked 20 goals from 16 games in the TAC last year.  He's smart, a goal-kicker and a very good contested mark.  

I don't know how many games he'll get without the sub rule, but when he plays it will be rotating through the midfield and forward-line.

1 minute ago, Redleg said:

I see the talent of Oliver at this stage, being in his burst play, not his marking or opportunistic goal scoring.

 

Disagree.

On 22/02/2016 at 10:01 AM, Cranky Franky said:

Pencilling in Hunt for Round 1 is ridiculous but continues the great Demonland tradition of supporters creaming their pants over someone who hasn't actually done anything yet.

Hunt has some ability but is yet to establish himself at Casey much less getting picked in the ones. 

expect top see the kids in the NAB cup,   but once the H&A starts,  I would hope the senior players get first dibs,  then from they're,  its their spots to lose to the up & comers.

 

FB: Garland  Dunn Jetta

HB: Salem  McDonald   ?????

C: ?????  Viney ????

HF: Kent  Vanders   Watts

FF: Garlett  Hogan  ?????

Foll:  Gawn  Tyson  Jones

Int: Vince ????? ??????  ?????

Half back: Wagner v Hunt. Both showed positives. Hunt's speed was on display, but his kicking certainly needs work. Wagner had a nice late spoil on Schulz and kicks well, but otherwise wasn't involved in much play

Wing: Grimes was ok, positives and negatives. Stretch was good when he got it but not seen much. Matt Jones had a few classic Matt Jones moments but also had positives. Bugg played all over the shop but again, had good and bad patches. Lumumba might be available for wing or half back.

Forward/mid rotation: Harmes and Kennedy were both very good. Oliver provided some really great moments. Brayshaw comes off the certainty list whilst we wait to see when he'll next play.

2nd ruck/tall: Pedo took a couple of nice grabs and kicked truly, Frost showed his speed and energy around the ball. 

 

6 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

FB: Garland  Dunn Jetta

HB: Salem  McDonald   ?????

C: ?????  Viney ????

HF: Kent  Vanders   Watts

FF: Garlett  Hogan  ?????

Foll:  Gawn  Tyson  Jones

Int: Vince ????? ??????  ?????

Half back: Wagner v Hunt. Both showed positives. Hunt's speed was on display, but his kicking certainly needs work. Wagner had a nice late spoil on Schulz and kicks well, but otherwise wasn't involved in much play

Wing: Grimes was ok, positives and negatives. Stretch was good when he got it but not seen much. Matt Jones had a few classic Matt Jones moments but also had positives. Bugg played all over the shop but again, had good and bad patches. Lumumba might be available for wing or half back.

Forward/mid rotation: Harmes and Kennedy were both very good. Oliver provided some really great moments. Brayshaw comes off the certainty list whilst we wait to see when he'll next play.

2nd ruck/tall: Pedo took a couple of nice grabs and kicked truly, Frost showed his speed and energy around the ball. 

 

Oliver will play.

3 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Oliver will play.

I'm not quite convinced yet. If all of Jones, Vince, Tyson, Viney and Vanders (not to mention Bugg, Brayshaw, Kennedy and Harmes) are fit and planned to rotate through the midfield then Oliver might just get squeezed out. I was super impressed by Oliver around the stoppages, but positional flexibility and endurance have to be considered as well.

I think Oliver is going to miss out, simply because of the role he plays puts him up against some very good players, but gee he shows good signs

Frost to the backline. Put TMac forward IMO.

On 24 February 2016 at 5:29 PM, dee-luded said:

expect top see the kids in the NAB cup,   but once the H&A starts,  I would hope the senior players get first dibs,  then from they're,  its their spots to lose to the up & comers.

 

'There' not 'they're'. 

14 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Wagner had a nice late spoil on Schulz and kicks well, but otherwise wasn't involved in much play

32% game time will do that to you.

I liked Pedo's effort and reckon he has given himself a good opportunity at a start against GWS.

All a myth of course.

1 hour ago, ProDee said:

32% game time will do that to you.

He (Wagner) looked lost in his first run off the bench 'ProDee', a bit of the headless chook...but I thought he settled well in subsequent runs, picked up the pace of the game and showed a bit.

They obviously rate his kicking ability, using him to kick out and the players looking to him for the release kick...

On behalf of P-man I won't be commenting on Grimes until after the 3rd game.

Was great to hear Watts played well, he now needs to back it up next week.

The other one who continues make the same mistakes is Garland yet continues to escape criticism on this site. Many say Frost should be down back. I'd like to see Frost/Dunn/Tmac as our 3 talls down back and Watts/Pedo/Hogan up forward and 4 mids/flankers on the bench.

3 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

I liked Pedo's effort and reckon he has given himself a good opportunity at a start against GWS.

All a myth of course.

IMO its no coincidence that boy Dawes & Pedo have 1 season on their contracts.  a play off... 

In my opinion I think Pedo offers more skills for our depth,  than Dawes who I think will be gone.  Dawes more class but chronic injuries.  Pedo an honest worker who can do the ruck things & plays taller then Doors wants to.

2 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

On behalf of P-man I won't be commenting on Grimes until after the 3rd game.

Was great to hear Watts played well, he now needs to back it up next week.

The other one who continues make the same mistakes is Garland yet continues to escape criticism on this site. Many say Frost should be down back. I'd like to see Frost/Dunn/Tmac as our 3 talls down back and Watts/Pedo/Hogan up forward and 4 mids/flankers on the bench.

Did a lot of good things as well yesterday Garland. He's very hard to rate, but when you see the difference between him and Oscar McDonald I think it stands out. I'd like a look at Frost as well but so far that won't happen. Garland's lazy missed kicks and long running floaters frustrate, as do some of his poor 3rd man up aerial efforts, but he was getting more involved in attacking play, was solid in a number of contests and mostly composed under pressure. 

If he was coming off the back of a good season I'd say it was a good performance from a senior player cruising in to the year but as he's coming off an up and down season I can see why you've been criticised. 

Jack Viney is going to be one of the dominant mids in the comp this year, and still has alot of room to improve.

If Frost is to play round 1 it should be as a backman with T.Mac up forward.