Our greatest modern day midfielder 

Coaches votes. 10. Clayton Oliver 

Brownlow. 3 votes. Clayton Oliver 

Mods Can we change the name of this thread please? how about just Oliver... superstar. 
 

He  played an amazing game of football tonight. Could have thrust him properly into Brownlow contention after Bont had a stinker.

I was one of the many saying he needed to fix parts of his game 12 months ago but full credit to him - he has done that and more.

Love him.

At 24 he is only going to get better, scary to think. Has the potential to be the best of a generation.

7 minutes ago, Garbo said:

At 24 he is only going to get better, scary to think. Has the potential to be the best of a generation.

already is

New nickname

CYBORG

No human can play like that! Ive run out of superlatives for him.Just SENBLOODYSATIONAL😃

A few stats, all flogged off Twitter.

Clayton Oliver vs Geelong 39 Disposals 27 Contested Possessions 2 Goals 9 Clearances 8 Score Involvements 7 Tackles 7 Inside 50's 34 Pressure Acts

 

Having 10+ contested possessions in every round of a H&A season: 4x - CLAYTON OLIVER (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021)

3x

2x

1x - Dangerfield, Pendlebury, Cunnington, JP Kennedy, Priddis, Tom Mitchell

 

Most contested possessions in a H&A season: 390 – CLAYTON OLIVER (2021) 387 – Patrick Cripps (2019) 386 – Patrick Dangerfield (2017) 368 – Josh P Kennedy (2012) 365 – Josh P Kennedy (2013)

First award for Clarry this year, he won the ABC Footballer of the year by 1 vote.

Edited August 21, 20213 yr by Mickey

9 hours ago, DeeZee said:

Our greatest modern day midfielder 

Yes We do not realise how good Clarry Trac and Maxy are and the last 35 minutes at the Cattery could well have put one hand on the 2021 premiership Cup.

Redemption day for 2018 Round1 Maxy missing the after siren shot and in the later season game at the Cattery coughing up a 5 goal lead in the last quarter for Tom Hawkins and Zac Tuohy to mastermind that after siren victory.

Eight points coughed up 3 seasons ago and  double chance shows why we are such an improved team amazing what 3 years adds up your mindset with good assistant coaches and matured and confident players. Yes Goody has evolved also but maybe a little Tmac cameo down   back in the second quarter would not have hurt on Big Tomcat! Just use all the players and their experience at your disposal. PS Oscar moved too late that day and Maysie last might could have been tried. 

Not that it means anything but most importantly reaffirmation of self belief and  the Minor Premiership for our silverware barren Club for nearly 60 years is a little entree to the spoils that await us IF we can play any where near our best for nearly all the next 3 or 4 games. 

Three  more wins and no Port Final in Adelaide ( not scared any way) for us unless the Grand Final is there. 

Let's hope the Pies smash Bombers and Freo gets home by under a goal to make a dream Final 8!!!

Go Dees and what a roller coaster for Jake Bowey with a mere 4 ( magnificent) games under his belt. Talk about timing a run and any hope Jonesy as a med sub?? Please instead of Vanders (but not JJ. )

 

Oliver has been unbelievable this season. Week in, week out he is so consistent. He's so important to our spread and quick ball movement because he will win the ball against 2 or 3 opponents and get clean hands to one of our players out of the contest. When he wins contested ball it's not just against his direct opponent it's multiple players. He never gives up either, whether he's being tagged or were getting beaten around the contest he just finds extra gears and does superstar stuff.

Added the Sunday footy show award to the ABC award, surely a coaches award coming aswell

I have posted several times over the years that Clarrie plays his own game his own way.

He racked up contested possessions in packs, clearances in the centre and, to top it off, he was right behind Spargs for the goal of the ground and then kicked his own. And he is as good at the end of the game as at the beginning.

Others may do some of these but none of the others combine all his talents in one package. In the 60+years that I have been watching the dees, only the incomparable Robbie has a higher ranking. Garry, Ox and Jimmy rank next.

I haven't seen this reported anywhere, and maybe I've got my wires crossed but if Clarry averages 30.3 disposals per game in his next 19 games he will equal Greg Williams as the fastest to 4000 disposals, despite his 17 games in 2020 being played with 25% less game time.

If Clarry can average 31.9 disposals per game, he'll do it in 18 games, and beat Williams by 1, making him the fastest ever. For context, in his 22 games this year, he has averaged 31.6, so it's a very real possibility.

 

Sources:

This Brisbane Lions article is about Lachie Neale being poised to be the fastest to 5000 disposals. It lists a number that are fast to 4000, but it isn't a complete list and maybe someone got to 4000 faster but not to 5000 and therefore isn't listed here? https://www.lions.com.au/news/963083/neale-poised-to-make-afl-history

AFL Tables has full career stats for Oliver (3,425 disposals from 121 games, including round 22: https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/C/Clayton_Oliver.html

 

Edit: it goes without saying that he is on track to be the fastest to 5,000 as well, needing an average of 28.75 disposals per game for the next 67 games to do it.

Edited August 22, 20213 yr by deanox

Anyone else finding it amusing that since winning the AFLCA and his performance on the weekend that many football "experts" are now saying he is clearly the best "pure mid" in the game as if its a big statement.

They say best pure mid so they don't have to get into discussions about Bont, Martin, Tracc, Greene, Dangerfield  etc as they play the mid / forward role.

Sure Martin was injured and Bont has gone off the boil (maybe has an injury) but right now there is no one better.

If he keeps this form up (can't see it changing unless through injury) it will be interesting to see how long it takes for the experts pack to catchup that he is the best player in the comp

1 hour ago, deelusions from afar said:

Anyone else finding it amusing that since winning the AFLCA and his performance on the weekend that many football "experts" are now saying he is clearly the best "pure mid" in the game as if its a big statement.

They say best pure mid so they don't have to get into discussions about Bont, Martin, Tracc, Greene, Dangerfield  etc as they play the mid / forward role.

Sure Martin was injured and Bont has gone off the boil (maybe has an injury) but right now there is no one better.

If he keeps this form up (can't see it changing unless through injury) it will be interesting to see how long it takes for the experts pack to catchup that he is the best player in the comp

I think it’s more that reputations are earned in finals and anyone watching that game could see Oliver was on another level. If he keeps that up for 2 more games no one will ever question Oliver’s status as a genuine star again. I find it interesting that Petracca is now the sidekick in the way the media talks about them now.

2 hours ago, Garbo said:

I think it’s more that reputations are earned in finals and anyone watching that game could see Oliver was on another level. If he keeps that up for 2 more games no one will ever question Oliver’s status as a genuine star again. I find it interesting that Petracca is now the sidekick in the way the media talks about them now.

I think its more that Oliver has a "good head for radio".  If he didn't look like Brienne of Tarth the media would froth over him.

Many "experts" gave tracc equal best on ground with Oliver. Yes he kicked important goals in the last quarter and had a great game - but no where near Oliver's level.  I think Oliver is harder for the media / footy world to like than Tracc / Bont / Dusty / Danger etc

On 8/22/2021 at 7:30 AM, picket fence said:

New nickname

CYBORG

No human can play like that! Ive run out of superlatives for him.Just SENBLOODYSATIONAL😃

Too right. Phenomenal footballer, gutsy player, appears as if he is on a tireless mission to the benefit of the Club. Enormously skilled and inventive yet at the same time, relentless, modest, humble and understated. Has he got a brother?

 

1 hour ago, deelusions from afar said:

I think its more that Oliver has a "good head for radio".  If he didn't look like Brienne of Tarth the media would froth over him.

Many "experts" gave tracc equal best on ground with Oliver. Yes he kicked important goals in the last quarter and had a great game - but no where near Oliver's level.  I think Oliver is harder for the media / footy world to like than Tracc / Bont / Dusty / Danger etc

I think he is very very handsome.

BTW Have we reached peak red head, near enough to 7 by my count? The number of gingers or nearly gingers, we could pass for the Irish national team.

More serious question, a friend was telling me about the monstrous blisters on his feet that he has to take care of before he plays. How hard is this guy? Not that I really want to see but does anyone have a link to the vision?

Why does he have blisters?? Cant be incorrect footwear??? Anyway Cyborg Clarry Choo Choo motoring along just nicely😁🤩😇

Edited August 30, 20213 yr by picket fence

Whenever our arzes have been in the flames this year it's been Oliver through sheer force of will dragging us out.

Richmond have Martin.
Dogs have Bont.
We've got Oliver.

 


 

 

Got a perfect 10 from the coaches this week. Again. 
This man is a superstar.