5 hours ago, Jack Vineys Anger Manager said:

I'm 98% sure Jay Clark supports the Filth. He looks like the kind of fella that would.

Clayton can be a farmer whilst playing for us if he wants. He would have to buy his own land though.

Jay Clark is 100% Cats. He was on the same tram as I was after our win over them last year, not as a journo but as a regular fan. He was with his wife, a really nice lady who barracks for the Eagles, and they talked about his passion for Geelong. It was rather sickening tbh 🥴

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

I now have no doubt that Clayton will be at Jeelong in 2026 🤯🤮

the way he is playing that won’t be much of a loss.

and that’s just talking on field

10 hours ago, DubDee said:

the way he is playing that won’t be much of a loss.

and that’s just talking on field

Are you saying he's misbehaving off field?

10 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Jay Clark is 100% Cats. He was on the same tram as I was after our win over them last year, not as a journo but as a regular fan. He was with his wife, a really nice lady who barracks for the Eagles, and they talked about his passion for Geelong. It was rather sickening tbh 🥴

Good intel GW. I’d thought he was Collingwood also!

Once again, Max Gawn on triple M yesterday morning laughed off at suggestions that Petracca made a rousing speech after the Freo game.

Pretty much implied that it never happened.

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Once again, Max Gawn on triple M yesterday morning laughed off at suggestions that Petracca made a rousing speech after the Freo game.

Pretty much implied that it never happened.

Such a bizarre story to be made up and get reported on. Seems like Morris didn't cross-check his mail.

19 hours ago, Jack Vineys Anger Manager said:

I'm 98% sure Jay Clark supports the Filth. He looks like the kind of fella that would.

Clayton can be a farmer whilst playing for us if he wants. He would have to buy his own land though.

Buy his own land! I’m not sure you’ve cottoned on to how AFL farming works.

20 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

Aside from that, i really really want to know what is behind this notion that Oliver cannot return to his best. Many on here (myself included) seem to accept this - likely due to almost 2 years worth of below Oliver's known AFLCA level of performances.

i know he missed last years pre-season or a fare chunk of it, but surely that alone cannot account for what we are seeing. Is it understanding the new game plan or his ability to execute role? Goody did give him a reprieve at the start of the year and he is still playing 78% of game time.

I cant see why he doesnt play in the same way that Libba does. They are ultimately the same type of player.

Interesting question. I'm skeptical that Oliver will get back to his 2021/2022 best but nor does he need to in order to be valuable.

I think Oliver is someone for whom aerobic fitness is hard to acquire. That he continued to improve from his debut season in 2016 to 2021/2022 may have in large part being due to steadily improving aerobic fitness and thus allowing him to get to more contests (acknowledging he also improved his strength allowing him to break away from contests). He was remarkably consistent during this period, only missing a single game between 2017 and 2022 inclusive.

Those that have to work hard to acquire aerobic fitness also tend to lose it faster. Thus, I suspect Oliver lost a lot more fitness between mid-2023 and the start of 2024 than a different type of athlete (e.g. Langdon) would have. Contrary to popular perception, players don't tend to improve their aerobic fitness across the season (although Oliver may have slightly as he was starting a very low base). One preseason (ie 2024-5) was never going to be enough to get back to his pre-hamstring level of fitness built over several consistent years.

At just 27, he still has time to regain aerobic fitness. Plenty of runners reach peak aerobic fitness in their late 30's and even 40's. Though I think it is going to be hard for him and he seems to have made less progress than I would have expected.

Moreover, I think we need to re-adjust expectations. If Oliver simply gets back to his contested ball winning best and fires out handballs into the path of outside runners with excellent kicks, that's enough. We don't need Oliver to win the ball, break three tackles and kick high and long down the line. Better for the team to play to his strengths and mitigate his weaknesses by utilising the strengths of others (eg Windor, Langford, Lindsay kicking skills).

I’m making a prediction here right now - Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Kasaiah Pickett will be wearing Demon colours in 2026. Come what May.!!!!

14 hours ago, chookrat said:

I have it on good authority that the Geelong Football Club have asked Oliver to attend the unveiling of their new scoreboard and will honour him with cutting the ribbon on their Victorian taxpayer funded scoreboard.

Not sure they would be that overt, it just doesn’t even make any sense that Oliver would cut the ribbon.

6 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

I’m making a prediction here right now - Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Kasaiah Pickett will be wearing Demon colours in 2026. Come what May.!!!!

I fully agree, DZ. Except I’d sooner have Kysaiah Pickett over Kasaiah Pickett (whoever he is) 😉

JK. 😝 when making his last milestone banner believe me when I say we double-checked, triple-checked and even quadruple-checked the spelling before sticking it down. Lucky for Koz he doesn’t play for Collingwood… they couldn’t even get “Isaac” right 😜

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFHlas1p_1R/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

If this is fat, i am in big trouble.

1 hour ago, Ghostwriter said:

I fully agree, DZ. Except I’d sooner have Kysaiah Pickett over Kasaiah Pickett (whoever he is) 😉

JK. 😝 when making his last milestone banner believe me when I say we double-checked, triple-checked and even quadruple-checked the spelling before sticking it down. Lucky for Koz he doesn’t play for Collingwood… they couldn’t even get “Isaac” right 😜

Thanks Ghostwriter I should have gone with my original thought(Kozzie) ha ha.👍😁

2 hours ago, roy11 said:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFHlas1p_1R/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

If this is fat, i am in big trouble.

It's pretty amazing to me that supporters can't see the difference in conditioning from 2025 to 2021. ''Fat'' is obviously contextual when it comes to a highly paid professional AFL player. I'll let you work out which photo is from which year.

29 minutes ago, Gator said:

It's pretty amazing to me that supporters can't see the difference in conditioning from 2025 to 2021. ''Fat'' is obviously contextual when it comes to a highly paid professional AFL player. I'll let you work out which photo is from which year.

Lad is getting older, bodies change, leaner in the earlier photos, most likely but action shots not always the best, there are plenty of photos from 2021 that look different to the one you posted.

Also we don't know what program the players are on, its a difficult balancing act at times, often read about players in sport putting on too much muscle and losing dynamic ability.

On a side note I love albino alligators.

10 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Lad is getting older, bodies change, leaner in the earlier photos, most likely but action shots not always the best, there are plenty of photos from 2021 that look different to the one you posted.

Also we don't know what program the players are on, its a difficult balancing act at times, often read about players in sport putting on too much muscle and losing dynamic ability.

On a side note I love albino alligators.

He's 27, not 37.

I know some supporters are wired to think of the best possible case scenario no matter what, but when a player starts every game on the bench, plays less minutes in every game than previously, and can no longer run like they used to, or burst out the front of stoppages like they used to, there's probably a reason.

For an elite mid he's the footballing equivalent of fat.

But you're welcome to stay in denial like plenty of others.

4 minutes ago, Gator said:

He's 27, not 37.

I know some supporters are wired to think of the best possible case scenario no matter what, but when a player starts every game on the bench, plays less minutes in every game than previously, and can no longer run like they used to, or burst out the front of stoppages like they used to, there's probably a reason.

For an elite mid he's the footballing equivalent of fat.

But you're welcome to stay in denial like plenty of others.

Goody did allude to the fact that he will still need more time at the start of the season. If what others have said is true that you don’t gain fitness in season, then why don’t we put him through more in season - I hate to say it- loading to increase his fitness base? Why wait until the next pre season ? Surely it’s not impossible to do this ?

The season is just about shot anyway so I don’t know we don’t switch up Clarrys program to put this [censored] well and truly behind him.

17 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Lad is getting older, bodies change, leaner in the earlier photos, most likely but action shots not always the best, there are plenty of photos from 2021 that look different to the one you posted.

Also we don't know what program the players are on, its a difficult balancing act at times, often read about players in sport putting on too much muscle and losing dynamic ability.

On a side note I love albino alligators.

Considering he's starting on the bench every game and is playing reduced minutes then i think it would be a fair assumption that he's clearly not at the fitness levels he should be.. and it shows.

You used an example of changing body shape as they get older which whilst i do agree to some extent, take Patty Cripps for an example. The guy has been lean and cut his whole career year after year. Oliver on the other hand went from lean and cut to looking overweight. Its been well documented how poor of a shape he came back last year but whilst he's worked hard in the pre season, i'm not entirely sure he does his extra's outside of the club.

2 minutes ago, Gator said:

He's 27, not 37.

I know some supporters are wired to think of the best possible case scenario no matter what, but when a player starts every game on the bench, plays less minutes in every game than previously, and can no longer run like they used to, or burst out the front of stoppages like they used to, there's probably a reason.

For an elite mid he's the footballing equivalent of fat.

But you're welcome to stay in denial like plenty of others.

I don’t think I’m in denial— agree he’s lost some of his dynamism and that was part of his greatest weapons in the modern game.

Could well be carrying too much weight inclusive of muscle.

Just think phrases like 'fat' or 'footballing equivalent of fat' could be better phrased given he's had some weight issues previously in his life.

I think Clazz looks pretty good physically, but the endurance is still a mile off

19 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Just think phrases like 'fat' or 'footballing equivalent of fat' could be better phrased given he's had some weight issues previously in his life.

Oh sorry, I'll work on my delivery.

1 hour ago, Gator said:

It's pretty amazing to me that supporters can't see the difference in conditioning from 2025 to 2021. ''Fat'' is obviously contextual when it comes to a highly paid professional AFL player. I'll let you work out which photo is from which year.

All I'll say is he was in absolutely ripping nick back then.

34 minutes ago, adonski said:

I think Clazz looks pretty good physically, but the endurance is still a mile off

That’s what it is..he hasn’t gone to the elite fitness he had, and can only perform in shorter bursts at this stage. He is on big $$’s and needs to get better…

42 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

I hate to say it- loading to increase his fitness base? Why wait until the next pre season ? Surely it’s not impossible to do this ?

If you want to do a full load and have a meaningful long-term impact on fitness, it's 3 months. You also need a period before that (3-4 weeks) to unload so that you're nice and fresh and your body/systems can take what's about to be thrown at them.

Also known as off-season/pre-season.