Lyon: Oliver is Demons best EVER midfielder

[DV8 2,271]

On 3/5/2019 at 11:51 AM, Hillary Bray said:

I wasn't aware that the random insertion of foreign lexicon was part of the prevailing zeitgeist. I assume it may provide a certain je ne sais quoi to proceedings.

LoL, HaHaHa...  you what ?  ?

[Superunknown 4,214]

On 3/4/2019 at 11:15 AM, Brownie said:

I'd agree.

I spend so much time rewinding the game to watch his hands and body work. He's just a joy to watch.

I've never seen a player with the awareness and skills that he has.

And he's got some mongrel in him too.

Man I have some fencing that needs doing can you spare some rewinds to help?

?

[Ugottobekidding 1,181]

On 3/5/2019 at 8:24 PM, a la johnny beckwith said:

 

Not too many issues with this - but no room for Junior McDonald?

 

Has to be in the discussion surely. Not much love for him in this discussion so far. Would probably have him in before w

Edited April 28, 2019 by Ugottobekidding

[Ugottobekidding 1,181]

He kicked three last year playing full forward.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,805]

I don't know if it's a symptom or a cause of some of our problems against Richmond, but I thought that way too many of Oliver's dinky flick over the top handballs either missed their targets or were to players under almost immediate pressure who either fumbled and turned it over or were smashed in a tackle.  Basically the options he chose to handball to were in poor position and/or we were not presenting enough good handball options around the ball, with enough space to execute an effective next possession.

A few of his kicks hit their mark, but again I recall a high percentage of turnovers based on quick around the corner and hope kicks.

My impression was this one of the least effective contributions I've recalled from Oliver, but  then, he also wasn't the only guilty one by my account.

[Matsuo Basho 1,053]

Try being a Melbourne midfielder at the moment, looking up and all you’ve got to kick to is Weideman and a Tom McDonald who’s running like he just got hit by a car.  No wonder confidence is down. 

[Juk3b0x 166]

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I don't know if it's a symptom or a cause of some of our problems against Richmond, but I thought that way too many of Oliver's dinky flick over the top handballs either missed their targets or were to players under almost immediate pressure who either fumbled and turned it over or were smashed in a tackle.  Basically the options he chose to handball to were in poor position and/or we were not presenting enough good handball options around the ball, with enough space to execute an effective next possession.

A few of his kicks hit their mark, but again I recall a high percentage of turnovers based on quick around the corner and hope kicks.

My impression was this one of the least effective contributions I've recalled from Oliver, but  then, he also wasn't the only guilty one by my account.

Couldn't agree more unfortunately RG.

A bit like Brayshaw at the moment, they both collect a load of the football, win a lot of their own football, but their disposal has just crucified us at times - either the short hospital handball to a teammate under pressure, the no-look, over-the-head handball to no one in particular, or the long high kick around the body to no advantage or straight turn over.

[DV8 2,271]

2 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

My impression was this one of the least effective contributions I've recalled from Oliver, but  then, he also wasn't the only guilty one by my account. 

Spot On,  'R(b)G'.

[Sargent Shultz 267]

On 3/4/2019 at 9:13 AM, chook fowler said:

Gus wont be far behind - especially if he tidies up his disposal. Two absolute stars who also seem dedicated to the club. Love what Harmes is bringing as well. 

Agree- just hope concussion does not get in his way

[KingDingAling 3,752]

Panics in tight, handballs it off to blokes already in danger, doesn't look ahead of the contest, hacks it on the boot, fumbles. Plenty of potential there, and does have some points on the board after two really good seasons. But he is a bit down this year. He isn't improving at a rate I - and I'm sure many - were expecting him to.

[rjay 24,889]

10 minutes ago, KingDingAling said:

Panics in tight, handballs it off to blokes already in danger, doesn't look ahead of the contest, hacks it on the boot, fumbles. Plenty of potential there, and does have some points on the board after two really good seasons. But he is a bit down this year. He isn't improving at a rate I - and I'm sure many - were expecting him to.

I will excuse him on the basis of major ops on both shoulders in the off season.

When on song he's a one touch player who uses the ball exceptionally well and never panics.

[KingDingAling 3,752]

1 hour ago, rjay said:

I will excuse him on the basis of major ops on both shoulders in the off season.

When on song he's a one touch player who uses the ball exceptionally well and never panics.

Agree. Hopefully its just early season rust. 

[Little Richard 6,262]

He's averaging 31.5 touches, 4.8 tackles and 7.2 clearances... and he's a little down at the moment.

Clarrie is a star.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,805]

31 possessions at an 80% turnover rate is not a good performance though.

Just for the record, I'm not trying to be overly critical of Oliver, but they were my just my observations.  I usually love what Oliver brings and I guess his recient down performances show that he is actually human after all.  Also shows how much individual performance is influenced by team performance and how fine a line it is between good and bad form.  When we were up and flying, those dinky handballs release a player who bursts into space, we are away and all praising Oliver for winning the initial contested ball and feeding it out through the eye of the needle - please bring back those days sooner rather than later.

Edited April 29, 2019 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[dazzledavey36 54,334]

He is still only 21.......

[Matsuo Basho 1,053]

He needs better outside mids to distribute the ball to. Extracts the pill, looks up for a split second and sees ANB, Stretch, Harmes, Old Man Jonesy and the Wagners running around like headless chooks in an abattoir. Do the math.

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,805]

55 minutes ago, Matsuo Basho said:

He needs better outside mids to distribute the ball to. Extracts the pill, looks up for a split second and sees ANB, Stretch, Harmes, Old Man Jonesy and the Wagners running around like headless chooks in an abattoir. Do the math.

We had much of the same last year and it worked ok.  It's a team form and structure thing at the moment are my thoughts.  I actually think 6-6-6 has really hurt us.  We previouly setup with those 1 or 2 players running off the back of the square at center bounces, which was really effective for us, particularly for guys like ANB.  That doesn't explain things post the centre bounce, but I think there is also an element that once a team is getting on top of us, we are becoming reactive to their structures around the ball and always on the back foot.  From what I understand, Richmond had way more tackles than us last game, which I don't think was as much to do about their intensity Vs ours, but more to do with us always delivering the ball to players in positions where they were easily tackled as opposed to them moving it in more open space.  My view is that it's more about player positioning and ball movement than simply a lack of outside pace which seems to be the flavor of the month around here this whole season.

My guess is that 6-6-6 is here to stay so we need to find a new structure/game style that works for us without it.  It can take a long time for players to learn and have confidence in a new game plan.  If we spend the rest of the season finding and embedding a new game style that stands up against the best teams, then I'll be satisfied that the season hasn't been a total waste.

It's not nessasrily a bad thing for guys like Oliver to be bought back down to earth either.   Hopefully if anything good comes out of this season, Oliver learns more about what it is to be the hunted every week  to flourish in that environment and/or to defend better.  A more mature, 'next level' Clarry is a tantalizing prospect.

Edited April 29, 2019 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[Matsuo Basho 1,053]

Get Jack Martin on one wing and a Wayne Milera type on the other and watch Clarry, Gus and Jack flourish. The problem is obvious. 

[BillyBeane 253]

He's doing well for a bloke who had both shoulders reconstructed in october and only started training properly in january.  It's an amazing recovery really

[TGR 1,367]

I can't believe that this guy isn't in every current AA team at the moment.

He has, with Brayshaw and to a lesser extent Gawn, carried the team.

He actually positions himself in dangerous/valuable positions when we come out of D50.  Many skirt wide looking for an easy kick, but he is there in the guts ready to be whacked 360.  Debatable whether he should start out more and leave the centre clear, and then sweep into space, but he is gutsy and almost has the best hands in the comp.

With Jones's second quarter heroics, his efforts in the 3rd quarter, where he put his body on the line v Sydney, saved us from 0-6.