Season 2024 Over for Clayton Oliver

[dazzledavey36 52,493]

Here they come.

 

[dazzledavey36 52,493]

By here they come I mean season ending surgeries. 

 

[4_Kent_Watts 855]

Should Max put the cue in the rack so we can see a couple a games from Fullerton?

[roy11 3,626]

"finally has surgery on his hand" -  that was from late March wasn't it? Quite the delay!

Lad has been in the wars this year 

[Bates Mate 4,411]

Good, will be a net positive for the final 2 rounds. He's been between serviceable and liability for much of the season and his last 3 weeks diabolical.

Amw back in ,Judd more midfield please. 

We need to make clarry earn his spot through performance next year

[Sydee 4,147]

Let’s hope the surgery goes well for Clayton he has clearly been severely limited and visibly sore - but make no mistake he has a great deal of work in front of him to regain his status as a premier midfielder in the AFL 

If I was Clayton I’d be making sure those around me had my long term interest and those of the club paramount 

Might sound harsh but my sense is the next year or two will define this young man’s future - sliding doors moment and I hope he picks the right direction 

Good luck 

[Gawndy the Great 9,008]

The first right decision the footy dept has made in a while. 

[FreedFromDesire 505]

This is a huge relief. I was very concerned with Goodwin's comments post-game about how we would treat the last few games. Hopefully this means all the players who have been playing through injury get properly managed now with an eye to 100% fitness for the start of preseason.

[layzie 32,600]

Excellent. Time to put him on ice.

Have a breather Clarry and then get stuck into a ripping pre season. 

[The Taciturn Demon 334]

4 minutes ago, FreedFromDesire said:

This is a huge relief. 

It really is. Painful watching him last weekend. 

[layzie 32,600]

17 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

By here they come I mean season ending surgeries. 

 

Thought you meant the cavalry on the horizon for a moment there! 😝

[Jaded No More 67,263]

Good. 
Anyone who was continuously attacking his performances recently should take note that he was playing in absolute agony. His hand was never properly operated on, it was only a quick fix. His knee has been an issue since finals last year too. 
All the keyboard heroes calling him lazy and a liability, should remember that next time they attack a player before they know what is truly going on. 
 

A mighty effort from Clarry to overcome a horrible personal time, on top of a mountain of injuries, to play all but 3 games!

[layzie 32,600]

1 minute ago, Jaded No More said:

Good. 
Anyone who was continuously attacking his performances recently should take note that he was playing in absolute agony. His hand was never properly operated on, it was only a quick fix. His knee has been an issue since finals last year too. 
All the keyboard heroes calling him lazy and a liability, should remember that next time they attack a player before they know what is truly going on. 
 

A mighty effort from Clarry to overcome a horrible personal time, on top of a mountain of injuries, to play all but 3 games!

Not to mention the desperation to play through the pain for fear of letting everyone down as I imagine this would have been his thinking.

Can't wait to get him right again. 

[Macca 16,565]

Explains a lot re his form

You have to wonder why he has been playing at all ... one ailment maybe, but all 3?  

[Sydee 4,147]

Just now, Macca said:

Explains a lot re his form

You have to wonder why he has been playing at all ... one ailment maybe, but all 3?  

Reflects our lack of genuine midfield depth particularly after we lost Trac 

Needs to be addressed and losing Nibbler doesn’t make it any easier 

[FreedFromDesire 505]

8 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Good. 
Anyone who was continuously attacking his performances recently should take note that he was playing in absolute agony. His hand was never properly operated on, it was only a quick fix. His knee has been an issue since finals last year too. 
All the keyboard heroes calling him lazy and a liability, should remember that next time they attack a player before they know what is truly going on. 
 

A mighty effort from Clarry to overcome a horrible personal time, on top of a mountain of injuries, to play all but 3 games!

I completely agree with your sentiment here, well said.

The only thing I'd add is, really it's up to the club to manage these things better IMO. I think most would just assume he's good to go if he's being selected every week, so they really don't help Clarry's cause by playing him when he's a long way from peak condition. It's probably not surprising from there that his performance is criticized - Especially given the lack of clear communication around such things from the club.

Not defending those who have gone overboard with it of course, and I haven't done it myself, but you can understand how a player being selected every week despite apparent poor form would generate discussion among the supporters.

[Ollie fan 2,914]

His hand injury has been obvious to anyone watching him, but I wasn't aware of the knee problem which certainly explains why he has lost his pace. I understand why the Club has continued to select him - he has still been an important and valuable player for us, just miles below the champion that we know he normally is. And it's also been, I have no doubt, very important for his mental health to keep persevering and working with the Club that he knows and loves. But completely agree that it is time to address these issues and get him ready for a big preseason. I'm sure next year we will see a completely rejuvenated Clayton Oliver and that is a very exciting prospect! 

[chook fowler 19,243]

season over for Chook Fowler

[binman 41,863]

19 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Good. 
Anyone who was continuously attacking his performances recently should take note that he was playing in absolute agony. His hand was never properly operated on, it was only a quick fix. His knee has been an issue since finals last year too. 
All the keyboard heroes calling him lazy and a liability, should remember that next time they attack a player before they know what is truly going on. 
 

A mighty effort from Clarry to overcome a horrible personal time, on top of a mountain of injuries, to play all but 3 games!

And unquestionably still be our best midfielder this year. 

[Macca 16,565]

6 minutes ago, Sydee said:

Reflects our lack of genuine midfield depth particularly after we lost Trac 

Needs to be addressed and losing Nibbler doesn’t make it any easier 

All things considered (with all 3 ailments to overcome on match days) points to Oliver playing as well as he  possibly could have, of late 

New information changes everything

Many of us (myself included) have been wondering why he's been so down on his best form 

We've been asking a lot of the lad, in my view, too much

[58er 5,844]

19 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Good. 
Anyone who was continuously attacking his performances recently should take note that he was playing in absolute agony. His hand was never properly operated on, it was only a quick fix. His knee has been an issue since finals last year too. 
All the keyboard heroes calling him lazy and a liability, should remember that next time they attack a player before they know what is truly going on. 
 

A mighty effort from Clarry to overcome a horrible personal time, on top of a mountain of injuries, to play all but 3 games!

Here here a few smart arses should look at themselves in the mirror for the cheap shots ( they have known all along his fitness and injury problems). 

Just remember not to look too long as the mirror might crack!! 

[Red But Mostly Blue 4,381]

Great news. Clarry has been hampered all year, and persevered despite an unideal preseason. 

I have never questioned his commitment or ability to return to his god-tier status on the field. And I maintain that. 

The problem with Clarry is everyone will judge him based on his lofty heights. It's not fair. He was good this year, and sure, maybe not what we have come to expect for various reasons. He is not alone in this respect! Our success in 2025 will require Clarry to return to his usual form. Provided we make the necessary adjustments to our midfield and overall game plan (which was a mess this year) - because it's NOT all on him as much as people want to pot him for not winning us games, that's not how it works - I am certain he will return to the Clarry we know and love. He looks happier and healthier, and with a few tweaks to his body and our game plan - boom, watch out 2025. 

Rest up, Clarry - you did your best this year considering all circumstances, look forward to seeing you firing in 2025. I also look forward to those asking for him to be traded/sold down the river to own their mistake next year. 

Edited August 14 by Red But Mostly Blue
typo

[58er 5,844]

1 minute ago, Macca said:

All things considered (with all 3 ailments to overcome on match days) points to Oliver playing as well as he  possibly could have, of late 

New information changes everything

Many of us (myself included) have been wondering why he's been so down on his best form 

We've been asking a lot of the lad, in my view, too much

If you didn’t suspect that Clarry had some issues this year on the field with fitness and injury you could easily fill the Carlton fitness job nowAndrew Russell has left.

Please don’t play the innocent or naive it just isn’t smart! 

[58er 5,844]

4 minutes ago, Red But Mostly Blue said:

Great news. Clarry has been hampered all year, and persevered despite an unideal preseason. 

I have never questioned his commitment or ability to return to his god-tier status on the field. And I maintain that. 

The problem with Clarry is everyone will judge him based on his lofty heights. It's not fair. He was good this year, and sure, maybe not what we have come to expect for various reasons. He is not along in this respect! Our success in 2025 will require Clarry to return to his usual form. Provided we make the necessary adjustments to our midfield and overall game plan (which was a mess this year) - because it's NOT all on him as much as people want to pot him for not winning us games, that's not how it works - I am certain he will return to the Clarry we know and love. He looks happier and healthier, and with a few tweaks to his body and our game plan - boom, watch out 2025. 

Rest up, Clarry - you did your best this year considering all circumstances, look forward to seeing you firing in 2025. I also look forward to those asking for him to be traded/sold down the river to own their mistake next year. 

Well said. 

[BLWNBA 671]

Finally, a common sense approach to injury and player management. Our management of players returning from injury has been really poor since the start of the '22 season. With the cue in the rack regarding finals footy this year, I personally think we should also allow May and Viney time to recover too. I don't think either seem right, and we should be giving both players the opportunity maximise the upcoming preseason and attack next season in full health.