Jump to content

Oliver: The Forgotten Superstar?

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

3 minutes ago, rjay said:

Would probably lead our tackle count at the moment.

He doesn't run back hard enough at times but tackling is not an issue, he lays them and they stick.

The superstars don't usually chase or tackle...at least he has half of this covered.

He could do with hitting the scoreboard a bit more but I agree with the article. He is a bit of the forgotten man...

We need leaders around the club,  not lazy players,  who do,  when they feel like doing.

If he will become one of our best players,  via attrition of age,  then  will he be a full leader of the team,  or will he be another also ran leader.?

He better start to think about the type of team and club he wants to be a part of,  or he will lead us to more  so-so  culture,  and so-so success.

 

It all starts with these young tyro's now,  and not wait for things to happen to them.

 

So it depends on Oli,  it depends on Tracca,  it depends on Harmes,  it depends on Viney,  it depends on Salem,  it depends on Neal-Bullen,  it depends on Lever,  it depends on OMc,  it depends on Fritta...

 

These players will soon be our main leaders,  and they have to start to mature in mind,  and begin to stand up tall.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     

     Hamish “It’s all me” Mclachlan loves Cripps. He took one big mark and goal last week but imo he was BEATEN by Clarry Oliver. I’m not sure he even saw the match. Ridiculous  

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    On 6/17/2020 at 11:57 AM, dazzledavey36 said:

    Agree.

    When I think of superstars I think of Martin, Fyfes, Franklin's of the world.

    Oliver is not in that "superstar" category.....yet

    Careful now

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    On 6/18/2020 at 10:49 AM, Lord Travis said:

    Oliver is a great midfielder, but he's not a superstar yet. There are two key parts of his game he needs to improve to become a superstar.

    First, he needs to stand up and have an impact when the team needs it. Superstars drag their team along with them. Think Michael Voss bulldozing someone and kicking a goal when scores are tied. Think Dusty shoving aside multiple people and snapping his third goal of a quarter when scores are tied. The superstars have the ability to stand up when it's required. Oliver as yet doesn't do this. He consistently wins ball across games, but he doesn't have bursts of impact or stand up in big moments.

    Second, he needs to hit the scoreboard. The difference between the superstars (Dusty, Fyfe, Dangerfield) and the next level down (T. Mitchell, Kelly, Oliver) is the superstars all hit the scoreboard. They do it consistently and sometimes in a big way. Dusty, Fyfe and Danger all rest forward and kick bags. the best players in the league are mid-forwards. Oliver showed glimpses of this in 2018, but as yet hasn't developed the forward part of his game.

    I believe he can become a superstar. He has shown he has the ability and physical attributes, he just needs to develop them. At this stage, he came in a ball winning gun, and he's still a ball winning gun. He hasn't really developed much at all, but he is young and has plenty of time.

    None of those players done it until they hit their "peak"

    Martin specifically was useless and got a game on potential for 6 or so years (admittedly his ceiling was ridiculous)

    I have this on going joke with a friend who is a bulldog supporter that Bontempelli isn't actually good, he is a product of the media. 

    Footy wire confirms this as he has him covered in nearly every stat. But interestingly if you compare a 22 year old Oliver to any of days superstars he has them covered by the length of the straight. 

    If he can continue his upward trend we will have a multiple brownlow medalist on our hands, such are his numbers.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    23 hours ago, Josh said:

    None of those players done it until they hit their "peak"

    Of course, no one does, until they hit their peak.

     

    But Oli is at the same plateau he was on 2 seasons back.  He started his career, at close to the level he's currently on.

    We all don't want him to do as others before him have done,  and just relax at that level.

    He needs to start developing once again. 

    We need him,  to add more strings to his bow,  of just get ball, flick it out.   We need him,  to start to impact outside, delivering. 

    And it would be good to see him with a goal a game.?

    Edited by MyFavouriteMartian

  • Quote

    23 hours ago, Josh said:

    ... 

    Footy wire confirms this as he has him covered in nearly every stat. But interestingly if you compare a 22 year old Oliver to any of days superstars he has them covered by the length of the straight. 

    If he can continue his upward trend we will have a multiple brownlow medalist on our hands, such are his numbers.

    I agree with you that Clarry is a mile ahead of most other players, including some superstars, at the same age. Using your example of Dusty Martin being useless for 6 years or so... I'd strongly disagree with that. His first 6 years he averaged 24 disposals and over a goal a game. That's better than all our players current output bar Oliver (though 20+ more goals a year than Oliver, so you could argue otherwise), let alone that early into his career!

    The problem identified with Oliver is it's not an upwards trend. Oliver has remained at a similar level his whole career and doesn't appear to be learning any new tricks. His peak was 2018 in terms of actual impact, so he's actually regressed the past two years. We don't want him to plateau because he's capable of so much more. We want to see him take games by the scruff of the neck instead of just chipping away at it. It's not that we don't think he's a gun already, we just want him to keep improving because he's capable of being more.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Love 1
    On 6/18/2020 at 10:35 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

     Hamish “It’s all me” Mclachlan loves Cripps. He took one big mark and goal last week but imo he was BEATEN by Clarry Oliver. I’m not sure he even saw the match. Ridiculous  

    Correct. I think the coaches votes went 10 for trac and 8 for Clarry, meaning both coaches thought they were best and 2nd best afield?

    But leave Gil alone, he's handled the whole covid thing pretty well. The only major sporting CEO still standing, and deservedly so.

  • Quote
    On 6/18/2020 at 10:14 PM, MyFavouriteMartian said:

    We need leaders around the club,  not lazy players,  who do,  when they feel like doing.

    If he will become one of our best players,  via attrition of age,  then  will he be a full leader of the team,  or will he be another also ran leader.?

    He better start to think about the type of team and club he wants to be a part of,  or he will lead us to more  so-so  culture,  and so-so success.

     

    It all starts with these young tyro's now,  and not wait for things to happen to them.

     

    So it depends on Oli,  it depends on Tracca,  it depends on Harmes,  it depends on Viney,  it depends on Salem,  it depends on Neal-Bullen,  it depends on Lever,  it depends on OMc,  it depends on Fritta...

     

    These players will soon be our main leaders,  and they have to start to mature in mind,  and begin to stand up tall.

    Wow what a load of hot air 

    Olivers the best 22yo in the competition & our best midfielder, yet you seem to think he’s lazy & needs to work out who he wants to be???

     

  • Quote
    •  

    when all these hot new things have had as good a start to their careers as oliver then we might be able to compare / contrast

    can't wait to see our bloodnut go head to head with gc17's one

  • Quote
    On 6/17/2020 at 3:01 PM, Forest Demon said:

    100% agree. He is underrated, but does also have another level to go as well, which would put him right up there with the top handful in the comp.

    He is really our most reliable player - it's just that he does so many things with the ball, particularly in disposal/disbursement. He usually delivers from well inside the midline - ie: rapidly - and then follows up a short distance following the direction of delivery.

    As second efforts, he is known to rebound the ball should it have been intercepted by the opposition.

    I, too, would delight in seeing him moving just that little bit forward in order to kick goals himself. Similar to what Greg Wells used to do from the 'centre'.

    However, his safety mentality places many tasks on his plate; keeping central in the midfield is one of these. With our team structure and its implementation, these are most probably the two most important things on his mind - delivery upfield and safety rebounding. We can boast that he has many talents and tricks in such processes; sometimes, we are surprised by the speed he employs in decision-making and execution as well as the methods he employs in crowded midfields to achieve positive outcomes so consistently.

    He is more than underrated, as well, his record clearly shows that he is one of the stars of the game and certainly, one of the best Demons, ever. With stronger linkages within the midfield and a few similar 'delivery and rebound' mentalities in the existing midfield, we may see Oliver become a prolific, forward driving goal-kicker. It would be fantastic.

  • Quote

    Something to think about...

    How many of these goal kicking mids kick their goals whilst playing in the midfield?

    Do most of their goals come whilst resting forward?

    I think Martin for one kicks most of his goals when playing forward.

    Then, do we want Oliver to play as a mid or a forward?

    I think we a weaker when he is out of the midfield.

    Leave him be a mid and kick the odd goal rather than spending time forward to kick more...

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    7 hours ago, rjay said:

    Something to think about...

    How many of these goal kicking mids kick their goals whilst playing in the midfield?

    Do most of their goals come whilst resting forward?

    I think Martin for one kicks most of his goals when playing forward.

    Then, do we want Oliver to play as a mid or a forward?

    I think we a weaker when he is out of the midfield.

    Leave him be a mid and kick the odd goal rather than spending time forward to kick more...

    How far is it, from the centre-circle to the 50Mtr arc.?

     

    Both,  he should be covering centre-bounce,  to inside H-Forward line,  on each of our forays into F50.

    And we need diversity for our midfield rotations.

     

    We need more than 4 players in our team, who can be starting Mids.

    Edited by MyFavouriteMartian

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, MyFavouriteMartian said:

    We need more than 4 players in our team, who can be starting Mids.

    We have, but when you've got probably the best starting mid in the competition you would be stupid not to have him play there at just about every opportunity.

  • Quote
    2 minutes ago, rjay said:

    We have, but when you've got probably the best starting mid in the competition you would be stupid not to have him play there at just about every opportunity.

    Call me stupid,  but I would want him to learn to play differing parts of the ground.   I want him to be damaging whichever spot he plays.

     

    You saw how 1st year player Matt Rowell ran the ball,  and played generally.

  • Quote
    • 1 year later...

    He is up there with the modern day greats at an earlier age.

    The other 400' club

     

    Edited by Engorged Onion

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Thanks 2
    • Love 2

    Love this bit

    As of right now, we are witnessing something special from Clayton Oliver, and anyone who criticises what he doesn’t do, or what he could do, should take a bit of gander at what he does do.

     

  • Quote
    • Like 13
    On 6/23/2020 at 7:25 PM, rjay said:

    We have, but when you've got probably the best starting mid in the competition you would be stupid not to have him play there at just about every opportunity.

     

    On 6/23/2020 at 7:32 PM, MyFavouriteMartian said:

    Call me stupid,  but I would want him to learn to play differing parts of the ground.   I want him to be damaging whichever spot he plays.

     

    You saw how 1st year player Matt Rowell ran the ball,  and played generally.

    I think it's now official...

  • Quote
    • Haha 1

    I think that this has been his best season to date and that says a lot considering that he has already had numerous elite years. It's difficult to think that he's less than 25 years old because he's accomplished so much in his first five years at the club.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    Look at my icon, it’s there for a reason…

    ball in hand, this guy, magic…. It can always happen..!

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    He's a monster. Practically untaggable. Leading the coaches votes. 2 x AA and another on the way this year

    Goal kicking was better v the suns. the only area of his game where he can improve.

    We're very lucky to have him (and signed up for another few seasons)

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     

    Absolute Gun with a capital G!

    Not sure his numbers last year but in a 17 game season he was probably on his way to another 400 in a normal season.

    We are lucky to have Petracca and Oliver together, both stars!

    Add Maxy, May, Lever, Salem before injury slowed him, and look forward to Pickett and Jackson, our future is bright!!

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Essendon

      As the focus of the AFL moves exclusively to South Australia for Gather Round, the question is raised as to what are we going to get from the  Melbourne Football Club this weekend? Will it be a repeat of the slop fest of the last three weeks that have seen the team score a measly 174 points and concede 310 or will a return to the City of Churches and the scene where they performed at their best in 2024 act as a wakeup call and bring them out of their early season reverie? 
      Or will the sleepy Dees treat their fans to a reenactment of their lazy effort from the first Gather Round of two years ago when they allowed the Bombers to trample all over them on a soggy and wet Adelaide Oval? The two examples from above tell us how fickle form can be in football. Last year, a committed group of players turned up in Adelaide with a businesslike mindset. They had a plan, went in confidently and hard for the football and kicked winning scores against both home teams in a difficult environment for visitors. And they repeated that sort of effort later in the season when they played Essendon at the MCG. Unfortunately, performances like these went against the grain of what Melbourne has been producing from virtually midway through 2024 and extending right through to the present day. This is a game between two clubs who have faltered over the past couple of years because their disposal efficiency is appalling. Neither of them can hit the side of a barn door but history tells us that every once in a while such teams have their lucky days or come up against an opponent in even worse shape and hence, one of them will come up trumps in this match.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Essendon

      Facing the very real and daunting prospect of starting the season with five straight losses, the Demons head to South Australia for the annual Gather Round, where they’ll take on the Bombers in search of their first win of the year. Who comes in, and who comes out?

        • Thanks
      • 275 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 05

      Gather Round is here, kicking off with a Thursday night blockbuster as Adelaide faces Geelong. The Crows will be out for redemption after a controversial loss last week. Saturday starts with the Magpies taking on the Swans. Collingwood will be eager to cement their spot in the top eight, while Sydney is hot on their heels. In the Barossa Valley, two rising sides go head-to-head in a fascinating battle to prove they're the real deal. Later, Carlton and West Coast face off at Adelaide Oval, both desperate to notch their first win of the season. The action then shifts to Norwood, where the undefeated Lions will aim to keep their streak alive against the Bulldogs. Sunday’s games begin in the Barossa with Richmond up against Fremantle. In Norwood, the Saints will be looking to take a scalp when they come up against the Giants. The round concludes with a fiery rematch of last year's semi-final, as the Hawks seek revenge for their narrow loss to Port Adelaide. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

        • Thanks
      • 17 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Geelong

      There was a time in the second quarter of the game at the Cattery on Friday afternoon when the Casey Demons threatened to take the game apart against the Cats. The Demons had been well on top early but were struggling to convert their ascendancy over the ground until Tom Fullarton’s burst of three goals in the space of eight minutes on the way to a five goal haul and his best game for the club since arriving from Brisbane at the end of 2023. He was leading, marking and otherwise giving his opponents a merry dance as Casey grabbed a three goal lead in the blink of an eye. Fullarton has now kicked ten goals in Casey’s three matches and, with Melbourne’s forward conversion woes, he is definitely in with a chance to get his first game with the club in next week’s Gather Round in Adelaide. Despite the tall forward’s efforts - he finished with 19 disposals and eight marks and had four hit outs as back up to Will Verrall in the second half - it wasn’t enough as Geelong reigned in the lead through persistent attacks and eventually clawed their way to the lead early in the last and held it till they achieved the end aim of victory.

        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Geelong

      I was disappointed to hear Goody say at his post match presser after the team’s 39 point defeat against Geelong that "we're getting high quality entry, just poor execution" because Melbourne’s problems extend far beyond that after its 0 - 4 start to the 2025 football season. There are clearly problems with poor execution, some of which were evident well before the current season and were in play when the Demons met the Cats in early May last year and beat them in a near top-of-the-table clash that saw both sides sitting comfortably in the top four after round eight. Since that game, the Demons’ performances have been positively Third World with only five wins in 19 games with a no longer majestic midfield and a dysfunctional forward line that has become too easy for opposing coaches to counter. This is an area of their game that is currently being played out as if they were all completely panic-stricken.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 04

      Round 4 kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night as traditional rivals Collingwood and Carlton clash at the MCG, with the Magpies looking to assert themselves as early-season contenders and the Blues seeking their first win of the season. Saturday opens with Gold Coast hosting Adelaide, a key test for the Suns as they aim to back up their big win last week, while the Crows will be looking to keep their perfect record intact. Reigning wooden spooners Richmond have the daunting task of facing reigning premiers Brisbane at the ‘G and the Lions will be eager to reaffirm their premiership credentials after a patchy start. Saturday night sees North Melbourne take on Sydney at Marvel Stadium, with the Swans looking to build on their first win of the season last week against a rebuilding Roos outfit. Sunday’s action begins with GWS hosting West Coast at ENGIE Stadium, a game that could get ugly very early for the visitors. Port Adelaide vs St Kilda at Adelaide Oval looms as a interesting clash, with both clubs form being very hard to read. The round wraps up with Fremantle taking on the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in what could be a fierce contest between two sides with top-eight ambitions. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons besides us winning?

        • Thanks
      • 273 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All