Jump to content

Why Oliver is More Dangerous Than You Think

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 

Champion. It's amazing to think that would could have 3 of the all time greats at the club at the one time in Gawn, Petracca and Oliver.

  • Quote
    • Like 10
     

    7 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

    Sorry Mr Landsberger but I have always know Clayton is dangerous.  Would love to see him hit the scoreboard though.

    Ranked 2nd for score involvements and equal 4th for goal assists for us.

    Might not be kicking many himself, but he's involved heavily in the scoreboard in a way.

  • Quote
    • Like 12
    • Love 1

    Because everyone we have played this year is trying to kill him...

  • Quote
    • Like 3
     

    He's an absolute jet. he's known for winning the ball and his quick hands but he's got serious wheels and he's a beautiful kick and overhead mark. he's a very complete player. 

    the insane thing about Clarry and Trac is they're still 2-3 years off hitting their prime. 

  • Quote
    • Like 7

    My favourite player. He's getting close to A+ grade and has been A grade since his third season.

    Criminally underrated by the press and perhaps even more underrated by Melbourne supporters. The guy is a genuine star of the game. If he stays at Melbourne for his career, he'll be one of our greats.

    Glad he's finally getting some media kudos. He only managed an AA jacket in his third year.

    A Sam Mitchell clone, except explosive from the contest.

  • Quote
    • Like 10
    • Thanks 4

    1 hour ago, Lord Nev said:

    Ranked 2nd for score involvements and equal 4th for goal assists for us.

    Might not be kicking many himself, but he's involved heavily in the scoreboard in a way.

    Yeah hes amazing.

    And to be fair to Mr Landsberger he most likely wrote that article for non-Demon supporters who may not appreciate Olivers greatness so I thank him for spreading the word.

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    38 minutes ago, A F said:

    My favourite player. He's getting close to A+ grade and has been A grade since his third season.

    Criminally underrated by the press and perhaps even more underrated by Melbourne supporters. The guy is a genuine star of the game. If he stays at Melbourne for his career, he'll be one of our greats.

    Glad he's finally getting some media kudos. He only managed an AA jacket in his third year.

    A Sam Mitchell clone, except explosive from the contest.

    Agree about how underrated he is. Does not get enough credit for what he does. Most of it is too quick to see.

    He has worked on his kicking, and started to extend his vision from in close to long range.

    I know disposal count isn't the most accurate stat for how good someone is but he has averaged the following number of disposals per game since his debut year: 19.2 (in 2016), 30.0, 29.4, 30.0, 25.1 (2020, equivalent to 31.4 pro rata for shorter quarters). For context, no other Melbourne player has ever averaged 30 disposals per game over a season.

    If he hit the scoreboard directly a little more often (ie kicked those goals against GWS when he went forward) I think the media conversation would be a bit different.

    Also he has a bit of lip on him, and I think he is one of those players that opposition supporters love to hate. Which probably adds to the downplaying of how good he actually is.

    Edited by deanox
    Fixed typo

  • Quote
    • Like 6
    1 minute ago, deanox said:

    Agree about how underrated he is. Does not get enough credit for what he does. Most of it is too quick to see.

    He has worked on his kicking, and started to extend his vision from in close to long range.

    I know disposal count isn't the most accurate stat for how good someone is but he has averaged the following number of disposals per game since his debut year: 19.2 (in 2016), 30.0, 29.4, 30.0, 25.1 (2020, equivalent to 31.4 pro rata for shorter quarters). For context, no other Melbourne player has ever averages 30 disposals per game over a season.

    If he hit the scoreboard directly a little more often (ie kicked those goals against GWS when he went forward) I think the media conversation would be a bit different.

    Also he has a bit of lip on him, and I think he is one of those players that opposition supporters love to hate. Which probably adds to the downplaying of how good he actually is.

    Sam Mitchell was similarly underrated until Hawthorn won a flag and then multiple flags, and that completely changed the conversation around him.

  • Quote
    • Like 4

    Funnily enough, Mitchell was also very lippy and a bit hated by opposition fans.

    He used to kill us and I wished that he played for us. A few years later we got Oliver and he almost immediately started winning clearances like Mitchell.

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    It’s also good to see Darcy Parish is also stating to get a few touches. 
     

    But seriously, Paul Roos is the man to thank for getting Oliver in the red and blue. 

  • Quote
    • Like 9

    9 minutes ago, McQueen said:

    It’s also good to see Darcy Parish is also stating to get a few touches. 
     

    But seriously, Paul Roos is the man to thank for getting Oliver in the red and blue. 

    Why Roos over Taylor?

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Because Roos alerted Taylor to Oliver’s contested game. It was far superior to Parish. 

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    Incredible that some Demonlanders would have been un-concerned if Clayton was traded out. He has developed beyond our wildest dreams since hitting the ground running in his first season.

    I doubt i will see another inside mid this good in the Red and Blue in my lifetime. The way he feeds the ball to others is just.... wow.

    Love this kid.

  • Quote
    • Like 18

    He’s a gun. I still cringe at some comments, even by some of our own supporters, who don’t quite understand what a player he is.

    It seems he takes his time a little more in traffic now, allowing him to be more damaging with his already elite contested game. His kicking has improved out of sight, likely because of the above adjustment.

    If he could nail those goals we are talking about him in the absolute top bracket of players in the comp. But even now, he is comfortably a top 10 mid in the competition.

  • Quote
    • Like 6

    I cringe when I have to read nonsense like ‘he can’t kick’ because he misses gimmes like he did against GWS. 

    Are you [censored] kidding me? What he does in the middle is extraordinary and some mouth breathing Dees supporters are on him because he tenses up in front of goal once a fortnight? They must really hate Fritsch then, he does it 3 times a game and it is his primary function.

    Anyway, glad he is getting more recognition - he is one of our suite of bonafide stars; Gawn, Petracca, May, Lever and Oliver.

    Edited by rpfc

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Love 1

    I can’t remember anyone more consistent from day dot to present. You could count his bad games on one thumb. 
    Kicking has never been an issue as much as we’d like him to nail set shots. Compare Treloar’s kicking playing inside mid to this year all cushy on the outside. It’s a hard gig and Oliver does it better than most. 
     

    Absolute beast. 

  • Quote
    • Like 5

    Completely agree with the last post, and generally I can’t understand how people don’t see it with this player.Two Brownlow votes in his first game and he hasn’t stopped since. Our best midfielder since Barassi, I have no doubt, but perhaps Petracca will come to equal him when he has done it consistently for as long.

    We are so fortunate at the moment, at Melbourne, we have four players in the top 10 in the coaches votes – not the team has more than one. And three of them form our midfield setup.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    9 hours ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

    Yeah hes amazing.

    And to be fair to Mr Landsberger he most likely wrote that article for non-Demon supporters who may not appreciate Olivers greatness so I thank him for spreading the word.

    100%, seems to still be (bizarrely) underrated in the wider footy world.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     

    I honestly don't know what has happened to his goal kicking this year.  Over his career he has been pretty decient in front of the sticks, but this season he actually looks worse and less likely to nail a goal than Max.  Hope he is just saving up his accuracy for if/when we need that set short after the siren to win the game, I just hope that's not a grand final or something - that would send my blood pressure through the roof.

    Agree with others regarding his goal assists and score involvements.  That play where he combined with Spargo to win possession and then flicked the perfectly placed handball to Jackson out the back around the corner was typical Clarry, making the dificult look easy and results in a goal that otherwise might not have been in the hands of another player.  Sure there were probably other great little handball gives out of congestion deep forward that he instigated as well, but that one to Jackson was peak Clarry.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    8 hours ago, deanox said:

    Also he has a bit of lip on him, and I think he is one of those players that opposition supporters love to hate.

    Love this part of his game.  That he mixes it up in a bit of a scuffle and then jogs away with a huge grin on his white pasty face and boofy head of red hair ensure he gets right under the skin of opposition supporters.  A joy to watch.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    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

    • NON-MFC: Round 10

      The Sir Doug Nicholls Round kicks off in Darwin with a Top 4 clash between the Suns and the Hawks. On Friday night the Swans will be seeking to rebound from a challenging start to the season, while the Blues have the Top 8 in their sights after their sluggish start. Saturdays matches kick off with a blockbuster between the Collingwood and Kuwarna with the Magpies looking to maintain their strong form and the Crows aiming to make a statement on the road. The Power face a difficult task to revive their season against a resilient Cats side looking to make amends for their narrow loss last week. The Giants aim to reinforce their top-eight status, while the Dockers will be looking to break the travel hoodoo. The sole Saturday game is a critical matchup for both teams, as the Bulldogs strive to cemet their spot in the top six and the Bombers desperately want break into the 8. Sundays start with a bottom 3 clash between the Tigers and Kangaroos with both teams wanting to avoid the being in wooden spoon contention. The Round concludes with the Eagles still searching for their first win of the season, while the Saints look to keep their finals hopes alive with a crucial away victory. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • 33 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: Brisbane

      And just like that, we’re Narrm again. Even though the annual AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round which commemorates the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture to our game has been a welcome addition to our calendar for ten years, more lately it has been a portent of tough times ahead for we beleaguered Narrm supporters. Ever since the club broke through for its historic 2021 premiership, this has become a troubling time of the year for the club. For example, it all began when Melbourne rebranded itself as Narrm across the two rounds of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round to become the first club to adopt an Indigenous club name especially for the occasion. It won its first outing under the brand against lowly North Melbourne to go to 10 wins and no losses but not without a struggle or a major injury to  star winger Ed Langdon who broke his ribs and missed several weeks. In the following week, still as Narrm, the team’s 17 game winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Dockers. That came along with more injuries, a plague that remained with them for the remainder of the season until, beset by injuries, the Dees were eliminated from the finals in straight sets. It was even worse last year, when Narrm inexplicably lowered its colours in Perth to the Waalit Marawar Eagles. Oh, the shame of it all! At least this year, if there is a corner to turn around, it has to be in the direction of something better. To that end, I produced a special pre-game chant in the local Narrm language - “nam mi:wi winnamun katjil prolin ambi ngamar thamelin amb” which roughly translated is “every heart beats true for the red and the blue.” >y belief is that if all of the Narrm faithful recite it long enough, then it might prove to be the only way to beat the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday. The Lions are coming off a disappointing draw at Marvel Stadium against a North Melbourne team that lacks the ability and know how to win games (except when playing Melbourne). Brisbane are, however, a different kettle of fish at home and have very few positional weaknesses. They are a midfield powerhouse, strong in defence and have plenty of forward options, particularly their small and medium sized players, to kick a winning score this week after the sting of last week’s below par performance.

      • 9 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Hawthorn

      There was a time during the current Melbourne cycle that goes back to before the premiership when the club was the toughest to beat in the fourth quarter. The Demons were not only hard to beat at any time but it was virtually impossible to get the better them when scores were close at three quarter time. It was only three or four years ago but they were fit, strong and resilient in body and mind. Sadly, those days are over. This has been the case since the club fell off its pedestal about 12 months ago after it beat Geelong and then lost to Carlton. In both instances, Melbourne put together strong, stirring final quarters, one that resulted in victory, the other, in defeat. Since then, the drop off has been dramatic to the point where it can neither pull off victory in close matches, nor can it even go down in defeat  gallantly.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Footscray

      At twenty-four minutes into the third term of the game between the Casey Demons and Footscray VFL at Whitten Oval, the visitors were coasting. They were winning all over the ground, had the ascendancy in the ruck battles and held a 26 point lead on a day perfect for football. What could go wrong? Everything. The Bulldogs moved into overdrive in the last five minutes of the term and booted three straight goals to reduce the margin to a highly retrievable eight points at the last break. Bouyed by that effort, their confidence was on a high level during the interval and they ran all over the despondent Demons and kicked another five goals to lead by a comfortable margin of four goals deep into the final term before Paddy Cross kicked a couple of too late goals for a despondent Casey. A testament to their lack of pressure in the latter stages of the game was the fact that Footscray’s last ten scoring shots were nine goals and one rushed behind. Things might have been different for the Demons who went into the game after last week’s bye with 12 AFL listed players. Blake Howes was held over for the AFL game but two others, Jack Billings and Taj Woewodin (not officially listed as injured) were also missing and they could have been handy at the end. Another mystery of the current VFL system.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Brisbane

      The Demons head back out on the road in Round 10 when they travel to Queensland to take on the reigning Premiers and the top of the table Lions who look very formidable. Can the Dees cause a massive upset? Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Like
      • 177 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Hawthorn

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 12th May @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Demons loss to the Hawks. Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show. If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

      • 53 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All