Clayton Oliver - Round 1 Rising Star Nomination

[Nasher 33,131]

2 hours ago, fndee said:

Statistical quirk from the weekend. Of the top five 2015 draft picks - Weitering, Schache, Mills, Oliver and Parish - all played and played well. 

The top 5 all look top shelf straight up.  Looks like this year's group could be an absolute bumper crop.  

Hopefully we'll be able to include Weideman in that statement as well.

[P-man 13,224]

10 minutes ago, Nasher said:

The top 5 all look top shelf straight up.  Looks like this year's group could be an absolute bumper crop.  

Hopefully we'll be able to include Weideman in that statement as well.

It brings me back to what an achievement it was to snag that top 5 pick.

This year's crop was talked down pre-draft but there are some others who have looked likely types - Papley, Mathieson (before he got injured), Dunkley etc.

[John Crow Batty 8,266]

Perhaps one of the most impressive debut's I can remember.  Now that he appeared on the radar it will be interesting how he goes with extra attention and tagging which is bound to happen sooner or later. I would love to see him tested against Crowley this week.

Edited March 29, 2016 by america de cali

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Clayton Oliver's R1 highlights:

 

[rjay 23,937]

16 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Perhaps one of the most impressive debut's I can remember.  Now that he appeared on the radar it will be interesting how he goes with extra attention and tagging which is bound to happen sooner or later. I would love to see him tested against Crowley this week.

I would be very surprised if he hadn't already been on the radar of opposition teams. With the amount of coaches and the scouting that goes on these days the only radar he wouldn't have been on were casual and opposition supporters along with some lazy journo's.

[John Crow Batty 8,266]

4 minutes ago, rjay said:

I would be very surprised if he hadn't already been on the radar of opposition teams. With the amount of coaches and the scouting that goes on these days the only radar he wouldn't have been on were casual and opposition supporters along with some lazy journo's.

Yes but not many would have expected the impact he had in his first real game.

[ManDee 7,091]

5 minutes ago, rjay said:

I would be very surprised if he hadn't already been on the radar of opposition teams. With the amount of coaches and the scouting that goes on these days the only radar he wouldn't have been on were casual and opposition supporters along with some lazy journo's.

Nice tautology.

[Lucifers Hero 37,193]

A bit more insight into our new Rising Star:  http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-29/see-ball-get-ball-message-helps-clayton-oliver-win-first-nab-afl-rising-star-nomination?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS+feed%3A+AFL+Latest+News

A humble lad:  On getting 22 possessions etc he said:  "I was pretty happy with that, and it was a bit of a shock to be honest that I could do that," Oliver said on Tuesday'. And 'An understated Oliver said he was just lucky to have such quick hands – he racked up 17 handballs, burrowing into packs and releasing the ball...' 

And his nickname with teammates is Clarinet!  Derived from his earlier nickname Clarry. 

Wonder if Clarinet goes up against Parish on Saturday so we may get some insight into the other candidate for our pick 4.  Regardless of how they go Sat or the future I am very very happy with Clarinet!

[Guest]

Clarry is almost like a Jordie McKenzie with all the weaknesses taken out. Hard at the pill, red hair, number 13 but with an AFL footballer's body and AFL standard skills and speed. 

You could get the two mixed up on first glance! 

[chook fowler 18,327]

2 hours ago, Nasher said:

The top 5 all look top shelf straight up.  Looks like this year's group could be an absolute bumper crop.  

Hopefully we'll be able to include Weideman in that statement as well.

Not bad for a supposedly weak draft

[jnrmac 19,114]

55 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Clarry is almost like a Jordie McKenzie with all the weaknesses taken out. Hard at the pill, red hair, number 13 but with an AFL footballer's body and AFL standard skills and speed. 

You could get the two mixed up on first glance! 

And he can kick....

[binman 38,653]

4 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

And he can kick....

And gee can he handball!

There was one i think in the last but could be wrong (the second perhaps) that showed both vision and smarts.

He collected the pill in traffic, in the center corridor, held it for just a brief second and gave a long handball to a player in space streaming through the middle.

What was really impressive was that he deliberately put it in front of the player, who not only did not have to break stride, even had to stretch for it. It was almost as if he was directing the receiver where to run to. 

Vision, smarts and technical skill equals a good package. 

[nutbean 8,837]

48 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Not bad for a supposedly weak draft

Again, it just re-enforces in my mind that the experts try and extrapolate what 18 year old kids whose bodies and skills have not yet fully developed,  playing in an age limited competition will turn out like in the open competition of AFL.They get it right and they get it wrong.

Interesting for me is the way Roos handled Oliver - he had no hesitation in put him right at the coalface in the centre square to get clearances yet did not thrash him highlighted by his limited game time. Oliver talks highly of the influence of McCarthy. I cannot stress that we are a new club that does two things - drafts talent and then develops talent. I no longer feel we will be successful because we get high draft picks that were talented juniors. We will be successful because we have some high draft picks that were talented juniors that we will develop. 

[nutbean 8,837]

He has a trick that I think will become a trademark like the "Dusty fend off". 

Although not quite as successful as the gem of a handball he did against the Saints, on Saturday a few times, he took a tackle and got his arms and the ball almost at head level and fired off handballs from height.

[hells bells 2,022]

1 hour ago, chook fowler said:

Not bad for a supposedly weak draft

Top end was always thought to be strong but not deep. 

[Lucifers Hero 37,193]

Another interview with 'Clarinet' http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-03-29/debut-a-surreal-experience-oliver

Again showing how humble he is:  “I can’t really believe it… it’s just a bit surreal to be honest,” he said...“I didn’t think I’d be playing AFL at all or getting drafted, let alone playing round one, so I’m pretty happy.”

He credits Nev:  “I’ve looked up a fair bit to Neville Jetta,” he said.  “He’s been pretty good after training just helping me with my tackling [and] we’ve been kicking a bit after training". 

Snippets like that just fill me with more confidence about where we are going.  Not only has our official player development improved so have our leaders hip (even tho untitled) and mentoring of young players. 

[P-man 13,224]

Interesting to hear that one of the players to take him under their wing is Nev Jetta.

For those keeping count, that is Reason #572 for loving Nev Jetta.

 

[thesleepinggiant 160]

2 hours ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Clarry is almost like a Jordie McKenzie with all the weaknesses taken out. Hard at the pill, red hair, number 13 but with an AFL footballer's body and AFL standard skills and speed. 

You could get the two mixed up on first glance! 

Ur high...

[Gorgoroth 12,331]

His disposal in his first game in traffic was pretty bloody good, can't wait to see how he is going after 20, 35, 50 games.

[monoccular 16,224]

5 hours ago, Good Times Grimes said:

Clayton Oliver's R1 highlights:

 

What joy!   Watching that again and again brings a tear to my eye.

[ChaserJ 3,964]

7 hours ago, jnrmac said:

precis?

http://www.sen.com.au/news/03-16/dees-recruiter-talks-finding-clayton-oliver

The conversation w/ Andy Maher is still up on the SEN audio listing as well.

[Nasher 33,131]

2 hours ago, P-man said:

Interesting to hear that one of the players to take him under their wing is Nev Jetta.

For those keeping count, that is Reason #572 for loving Nev Jetta.

 

It wasn't the answer I was expecting to that question, but it wasn't a surprise either. Great to hear that Nev's gone out of his way to help the kid. That's probably one of the benefits of Jetta himself now being comfortable and settled in the environment.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

1 hour ago, monoccular said:

What joy!   Watching that again and again brings a tear to my eye.

 

7 hours ago, Good Times Grimes said:

Clayton Oliver's R1 highlights:

 

The highlight for me was the handpass to vandenBerg right at the end, timed it to perfection.

[mdemon 266]

4 hours ago, nutbean said:

He has a trick that I think will become a trademark like the "Dusty fend off". 

Although not quite as successful as the gem of a handball he did against the Saints, on Saturday a few times, he took a tackle and got his arms and the ball almost at head level and fired off handballs from height.

Spot on Nutbean - for an 18 year old 1st gamer to keep his feet when tackled AND keep his arms free to fire off a handball as you describe, is simply remarkable.

When he increases his core strength after another pre-season or two, we may well have something very special 

[Demon Dynasty 15,648]

On 3/28/2016 at 9:13 PM, Sir Why You Little said:

Pedo played a great last Q as well

watch closely...

Will watch with interest SW.

Also not much mention of Matty Jones's effort in this match. Going to watch the last 3 quarters with him in mind also as statistically his game was at the same level of output (maybe not impact & and on scoreboard) as Kennedy's. Ranked him equal 4th on the day with Kennedy, his highest ranking since i've been running stats on the team and maybe his best game for the MFC so far (statistically anyway). Included 20 effective disposals (2nd only to the Jones boy) at an efficiency of 95.2%, second only to Garlo (defender).

Edited March 30, 2016 by Rusty Nails