Why Oliver is More Dangerous Than You Think

[Lucifers Hero 39,818]

Oliver has shot up the Leaderboard of the Coaches votes after a perfect 10 this week.

He is now on 42 votes outright second to McCluggage on 44.  The Bont is 3rd on 40.

Doesn't get enough credit in the media.

[Bleed red and blue 59]

He's a superstar

His only downfall was his kicking which has come on leaps and bounds this year hope for many years to come from him, hopefully sign another contract extension

[deanox 9,924]

6 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Oliver has shot up the Leaderboard of the Coaches votes after a perfect 10 this week.

He is now on 42 votes outright second to McCluggage on 44.  The Bont is 3rd on 40.

Doesn't get enough credit in the media.

I think his 1.2, 2 goal assists and 5 other score involvements meant he was super damaging this week.

So good to see.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

10 votes from the coaches, yet still didn’t get in many Demonlander’s top 6 on the first page of the votes thread. Unbelievable.

It’s not about individual achievements, but I would love to see him pick up another AA selection this year, and maybe win one of these major awards along the way as well within the next few years.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,770]

On 5/2/2021 at 12:44 AM, ding said:

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.

To paraphrase Ian Chappell's comment* when Tony Grieg said Steve Waugh might be the best all rounder in the southern hemisphere, I'm not sure Oliver is the best inside mid in his own team right now.

Depends on whether you classify Petracca as an "inside" or an "outside" mid. Personally, I think Petracca is a bit of both but more inside than outside.

 

*In 1991-92, when Waugh used to do a lot of bowling, Chappell was in the commentary box with his old pal, Tony Greig, who remarked, “This bloke has to be the best all-rounder in the Southern Hemisphere.” Chappell picked up the microphone and said, “Tony, he’s not even the best all-rounder in his own family.” Chappell always maintained that Mark Waugh was a superior cricketer than his twin. 

(Source: My memory and https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/cricketing-rifts-9-ian-chappells-nasty-duels-with-greig-waugh-across-a-generation-12381)

[Young Blood 2,620]

He is so so fit at the moment. His ability to cover ground is underrated. Gets to so many contests with intensity every time. Absolute star.

[tiers 2,840]

Clarrie is not Mitchell reincarnated in red and blue. There is no comparison. He is a much more impressive and complete player.

Clarrie wins his own ball in crowded situations (unlike Mitchell who used to stand at the back of packs and wait for the ball to be flicked out) and can deliver with thought, play with intensity, tackle with ferocity, run with speed,  mark with the best and kick with both feet to advantage so as to create scoring opportunities galore. His hands are slicker and quicker than Mitchell and even Williams from the 90s.

When the demons start to read and react to Clarrie's possessions in the same way that the dorks did with Michell, then he will be unstoppable. It is time for the team to step up to his standard.

As for being lippy notice how, when he gets pinged for supposed "incorrect disposals" by umpires who have no feel for the game, he does not carry on but only shows his disappointment and gets on with the game. A model citizen yet he loses Brownlow votes because his best work is too quick and too subtle for the umpires. No grand gestures like others. Just pure footy smarts and skill.

[Smokey 4,389]

On 5/1/2021 at 11:53 PM, A F said:

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

And therein lies the key. One can be a star during the season, but until you do it in September and contribute to a flag (or multiple flags), can one really be considered A+? 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,770]

1 minute ago, Smokey said:

And therein lies the key. One can be a star during the season, but until you do it in September and contribute to a flag (or multiple flags), can one really be considered A+? 

Yes. Robert Flower was definitely A+. Anyone who saw him play will agree. No question about it.

[Adam The God 30,260]

21 minutes ago, Smokey said:

And therein lies the key. One can be a star during the season, but until you do it in September and contribute to a flag (or multiple flags), can one really be considered A+? 

Of course they can. What, Gary Ablett Snr wasn't a star because he never won a flag? Plenty of superstar A+ graders that have never won a flag.

[leave it to deever 17,511]

On 5/1/2021 at 9:35 PM, Pickett2Jackson said:

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

Crumbed one yesterday. Yea he needs to fix his shots on goal but so do Trac and Gawn. Maybe they wont ever be sharp shooters .. doesnt matter. They keep winning games for us.

The biggest take on Oliver for me this year is his fitness. He finishes like he could play another game.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,770]

3 minutes ago, A F said:

Of course they can. What, Gary Ablett Snr wasn't a star because he never won a flag? Plenty of superstar A+ graders that have never won a flag.

Werridee might be able to put together a team. I'll donate Nathan Buckley's name to the list. And Nat Fyfe.

[Dr.D 1,771]

has always been in my eyes our best mid, including Petracca. I thought people wanted him dropped last year due to his disposal efficiency? Good lord.

[Smokey 4,389]

1 hour ago, A F said:

Of course they can. What, Gary Ablett Snr wasn't a star because he never won a flag? Plenty of superstar A+ graders that have never won a flag.

In the context of 2021, im more thinking about the difference between trac and dusty 

[Dingo 1,059]

On 5/1/2021 at 9:21 PM, WERRIDEE said:

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.

Jones?

[Pates 9,660]

1 hour ago, A F said:

Of course they can. What, Gary Ablett Snr wasn't a star because he never won a flag? Plenty of superstar A+ graders that have never won a flag.

Plugger never won a flag, but legend and greatest forward the game will ever see.

[Demonised 1,354]

21 minutes ago, Pates said:

Plugger never won a flag, but legend and greatest forward the game will ever see.

'Greatest forward'? Bob Pratt might have something to say about that, and so would Peter Hudson.

[monoccular 17,431]

2 hours ago, Smokey said:

And therein lies the key. One can be a star during the season, but until you do it in September and contribute to a flag (or multiple flags), can one really be considered A+? 

Flower

Skilton

Pavlich

Stynes

[Pates 9,660]

19 minutes ago, Demonised said:

'Greatest forward'? Bob Pratt might have something to say about that, and so would Peter Hudson.

Very different generations you're throwing in there (and personally a lot more names that you could've chosen from). But for the FACT that he has kicked the most goals of any footballer ever, he goes top of the pops.

[Jaded No More 68,919]

He is a freak. Best hands in the competition in close. 

[Adam The God 30,260]

2 hours ago, tiers said:

Clarrie is not Mitchell reincarnated in red and blue. There is no comparison. He is a much more impressive and complete player.

Clarrie wins his own ball in crowded situations (unlike Mitchell who used to stand at the back of packs and wait for the ball to be flicked out) and can deliver with thought, play with intensity, tackle with ferocity, run with speed,  mark with the best and kick with both feet to advantage so as to create scoring opportunities galore. His hands are slicker and quicker than Mitchell and even Williams from the 90s.

When the demons start to read and react to Clarrie's possessions in the same way that the dorks did with Michell, then he will be unstoppable. It is time for the team to step up to his standard.

As for being lippy notice how, when he gets pinged for supposed "incorrect disposals" by umpires who have no feel for the game, he does not carry on but only shows his disappointment and gets on with the game. A model citizen yet he loses Brownlow votes because his best work is too quick and too subtle for the umpires. No grand gestures like others. Just pure footy smarts and skill.

This is nonsense. Clarry is my favourite MFC player of all time, but you didn't watch Mitchell closely. He was constantly on the bottom of packs and had brilliant hands. He was every bit the extractor. He was not an outside mid.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

On 5/1/2021 at 9:35 PM, Pickett2Jackson said:

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

Ditto on both counts.  Will take himself and us to another level if he could finish more often coming inside 50 and shooting at goal.

Also would like to see him avoid the blind over head handball backwards pls.  Somewhere near a red and blue flashy thing running around forward of the contest would be nice

[jnrmac 20,085]

24 minutes ago, Pates said:

Very different generations you're throwing in there (and personally a lot more names that you could've chosen from). But for the FACT that he has kicked the most goals of any footballer ever, he goes top of the pops.

Bob Pratt kicked 150 goals from 21 games, averaged 4.3g per game over his career and missed 6 seasons because of World War 2. Criminally under-rated.

[Demonised 1,354]

49 minutes ago, Pates said:

Very different generations you're throwing in there (and personally a lot more names that you could've chosen from). But for the FACT that he has kicked the most goals of any footballer ever, he goes top of the pops.

As soon as anyone brings up 'greatest ever' the discussion is thrown open to the history of the game, isn't it?

Besides, Bradman isn't known as the greatest ever because he scored the most runs of any cricketer ever, it's because of his amazing average. By that measure,  Peter Hudson is the top, with a 5.64 goals per game average, superior to Plugger's 4.84. 

But I'm just quibbling. Lockett was a legend,  undoubtedly. 

[dieter 3,325]

An ex AFL player who lives in Wang. says Oliver had 'issues' which stopped most clubs from looking at him. You may recall, at the end of his first year at the Demons there was an 'issue' involving a motor car and the police and Oliver. 

I love the guy, watched his first few intra club matches at Casey in the ROOs/Hogan days and he was always going to be a very unique and gifted talent. ALso saw his first game against GWS in 2016. He 'had' it.