Lyon: Oliver is Demons best EVER midfielder

[Willmoy1947 3,957]

Two games down and my beer intake is up. Should i tell my doctor, my wife or just do my will....

[Bondi 25]

If Oliver was Garry's son he'd be called Clarry Lyon.

I'll see myself out ...

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Hes the best ive seen, just takes the breathe away some of the things he does.

Im not sure he will win a Brownlow tho, he just doesnt seem to poll votes? Had only 3 or 4 up until round 17 last year and he seemed way better than that, in fact finishing on 13, and only polling in 6 games. Does he give a bit back to the umps?? Guess hell just have to share one with Gus.

[hemingway 7,615]

I went to Shepparton to look at a couple of players close-up.

Oliver was one of those players.

He may not be a brilliant high mark or play with the dash of others.  He is not a Dusty Martin or a Robert Flower but as I watched the game I began to realize that this son of Mooroopna is already one of the great players of the MFC and a future great of the game.

Outstanding people in life have a unique set of skills that set them apart from others. It is an hereditary trait. It can't be practiced or copied. If you think of all the great footballers over time, they were unique and special. The Tigers have Dusty and we had Robert Flower. When thinking of Flower it is with the privileged memory of a player whose like we will never see again.

We have some great young footballers. However, they do not all possess a distinguishing characteristic that makes the way they play unique.

Angus Brayshaw is a ball magnet but I would not walk over hot coals to watch him play. But I would walk over hot coals to watch Oliver.   

Wiseblood, Clint and Tony have described his attributes perfectly.

What amazes me watching him is his mind-body connection. The speed of his brain, the assessment of the situation, the decision making and the speed in which he uses his body and hands to possess the ball and do something with it is unbelievable until you see it. He is so quick that unless you are fully focussed, you miss it.  And this speed means that his opponents miss it and also miss his delivery. You don't know where the ball is going to go. As others have pointed out he is often to quick for his team mates.  

As a result of his unique skills, Oliver is almost impossible for opponents to counter and match up, at least for the whole game. Oliver may be held or his influence reduced,  but he will still manage to break out and do something special.  

His speed of decision making and action is something that I have not seen before. It is beyond belief.

[pineapple dee 2,892]

32 minutes ago, willmoy said:

Two games down and my beer intake is up. Should i tell my doctor, my wife or just do my will....

Don't tell the wife. She will know just via wife's intuition. Tell the doctor, he will be dispassionate and have some sage advice.

If you're near the end and you've got some good stuff, leave it to me. I'll take care of it ( especially the 1930 penny or the Titian. )

[Deeminion 390]

He has GOAT potential for sure. I'd like to see him win a premiership or brownlow or even consistent finals appearances before bestowing the official title. He's at the top of the straight in good position. Just needs to bring it home.

[tiers 2,804]

No one should ever be compared to the incomparable Robbie who played his footy in a higher universe.

Clarrie will end up in the pantheon at the next level down. Very rare space.

Added the following from 2016

Best hands at MFC since Obst. Best vision, awareness and selection of disposal choices in close that I have ever seen at MFC. Most successful teams have high class distributors (think Sam Mitchell, Greg Williams, Michael Voss) whose touches propel their teams forward. If handled properly, Clarry will rightfully belong in this company.

The FD's challenge will be to develop the receivers to complement his role and his skills.

Edited March 4, 2019 by tiers
Better comment

[Willmoy1947 3,957]

9 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

Don't tell the wife. She will know just via wife's intuition. Tell the doctor, he will be dispassionate and have some sage advice.

If you're near the end and you've got some good stuff, leave it to me. I'll take care of it ( especially the 1930 penny or the Titian. )

You miserable b.......how did you know i worked in a bank...

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,282]

I reckon I said the same 18 months ago,  nothing has changed my mind. 

[spalding 1,128]

Its true - and possibly more reflective in the lack stars we have had in the last 40 years, than how good Oliver is. If Brayshaw stops kicking it on his left foot, he might become the second best. All the best players in my lifetime, with the exception of Flower, have been key position players like Lyon, Neitz, Stynes and the Ox. 

 

 

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,532]

If Clarry adds goals to his game, he will be one of the greats. No doubt about it.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

30 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Hes the best ive seen, just takes the breathe away some of the things he does.

Im not sure he will win a Brownlow tho, he just doesnt seem to poll votes? Had only 3 or 4 up until round 17 last year and he seemed way better than that, in fact finishing on 13, and only polling in 6 games. Does he give a bit back to the umps?? Guess hell just have to share one with Gus.

I used to really rate the Brownlow. Perhaps it was because we never really had a chance at team honours I would focus on Robbie or Greg Wells or Brian Wilson or Hardeman to hopefully bring some kudos to the club. 

Nowadays I don’t really care about the Brownlow at all. It’s not on my radar and I’m not sure if that’s me or it has been generally devalued. I wonder which award means the most to the players? Coaches award would be a big one you would think? I suppose a Brownlow would still bring in the most reputational post career dollars. 

[pewpewpew 738]

5 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

If Clarry adds goals to his game, he will be one of the greats. No doubt about it.

I think he should have had a ping at the goals when he took that mark on the 50 and played on and hit up Fritsch. Selfless play but I would not have begrudged him after a great piece of play.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,644]

25 minutes ago, hemingway said:

I went to Shepparton to look at a couple of players close-up.

Oliver was one of those players.

He may not be a brilliant high mark or play with the dash of others.  He is not a Dusty Martin or a Robert Flower but as I watched the game I began to realize that this son of Mooroopna is already one of the great players of the MFC and a future great of the game.

Outstanding people in life have a unique set of skills that set them apart from others. It is an hereditary trait. It can't be practiced or copied. If you think of all the great footballers over time, they were unique and special. The Tigers have Dusty and we had Robert Flower. When thinking of Flower it is with the privileged memory of a player whose like we will never see again.

We have some great young footballers. However, they do not all possess a distinguishing characteristic that makes the way they play unique.

Angus Brayshaw is a ball magnet but I would not walk over hot coals to watch him play. But I would walk over hot coals to watch Oliver.   

Wiseblood, Clint and Tony have described his attributes perfectly.

What amazes me watching him is his mind-body connection. The speed of his brain, the assessment of the situation, the decision making and the speed in which he uses his body and hands to possess the ball and do something with it is unbelievable until you see it. He is so quick that unless you are fully focussed, you miss it.  And this speed means that his opponents miss it and also miss his delivery. You don't know where the ball is going to go. As others have pointed out he is often to quick for his team mates.  

As a result of his unique skills, Oliver is almost impossible for opponents to counter and match up, at least for the whole game. Oliver may be held or his influence reduced,  but he will still manage to break out and do something special.  

His speed of decision making and action is something that I have not seen before. It is beyond belief.

Well said, Ernest. Your last line sums him up. Very few players have that skill and I think it means he's worked out what he's going to do with the ball before he gets it, rather than making the decision afterwards. Not many players have that capability. In fact, you can see many players "spending it before they have it" which shows how hard it can be to do what Oliver does consistently. 

[jnrmac 19,890]

31 minutes ago, hemingway said:

I went to Shepparton to look at a couple of players close-up.

His speed of decision making and action is something that I have not seen before. It is beyond belief.

Greg Williams was pretty handy. Oliver in time will be talked about like Williams who was unstoppable in his day and had extraordinary vision.

[sisso 2,555]

He’s a freak, already one of the best Melbourne players I’ve ever seen, and how he didn’t go #1 in his draft year shows what an inexact science selecting footballers is...when you think average footballers like Tom Boyd, Jon Patton and Jack Watts were #1

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,532]

17 minutes ago, pewpewpew said:

I think he should have had a ping at the goals when he took that mark on the 50 and played on and hit up Fritsch. Selfless play but I would not have begrudged him after a great piece of play.

He's a booming kick, has to back himself more often.

It's been mooted that he will spend a bit more time down forward. If he takes games apart when he's in a forward pocket, he could very well be taking a Charlie or two home in the coming years.

[hemingway 7,615]

14 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Greg Williams was pretty handy. Oliver in time will be talked about like Williams who was unstoppable in his day and had extraordinary vision.

True enough Junior, Williams was similar, but I regard Williams as odious, given his on-field antics. 

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,837]

Oliver is the reason when you look back now and old posts that argue we have not had great players or elite players you nod and say "now I get it".

He consistently plays the game at a different level to nearly all but the best of the best. Its almost like watching a different sport.

 

[Guest]

He has definitely had the best start to a career I've seen since Chris Judd back in the day.

I'd say if he stays in this track then he will be the best Melbourne midfielder I have seen. The only reason why I'm not more declarative now is that no one knows what the future may bring.

I remember some on here going on about how Jesse would be better than Neitz. I wonder if that feel that way now?

[Jaded No More 67,637]

He is a breathtaking footballer and I pinch myself every time I watch him that he is ours. He is an unbelievable talent. His brain works so fast.

[jnrmac 19,890]

56 minutes ago, Hillary Bray said:

He has definitely had the best start to a career I've seen since Chris Judd back in the day.

I'd say if he stays in this track then he will be the best Melbourne midfielder I have seen. The only reason why I'm not more declarative now is that no one knows what the future may bring.

I remember some on here going on about how Jesse would be better than Neitz. I wonder if that feel that way now?

Jesse who?

[In Harmes Way 7,700]

Time to bring out the ole one handed pickup. The boy's a magician.

[pineapple dee 2,892]

1 hour ago, hemingway said:

True enough Junior, Williams was similar, but I regard Williams as odious, given his on-field antics. 

Yes Williams was a toad and a thoroughly unlikeable player but he always appeared to have about 20 - 30 seconds to get rid of the ball.

In that regard, he was peerless.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,644]

35 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

Yes Williams was a toad and a thoroughly unlikeable player but he always appeared to have about 20 - 30 seconds to get rid of the ball.

In that regard, he was peerless.

And he invariably found a player, usually in a better position, with his precision disposal, .