Remembering what I saw in real life from Ablett Snr at games I think for both Hawthorn and Cats, he got nothing in his favour from umpires at Dorks and everything in his favour at the cats. And I wasn't the only one who thought that. Wheras Clarry in the action all the time never got anything.

17 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

He’ll move better now, he’s trimmed down to look similar to what he was in his prime, he’s also got the added incentive of proving people wrong.

The question isn’t whether he can play or was a great, the question is did we do the right thing and it really isn’t up for debate IMO.

It’s an indictment it took him being moved on and virtually unwanted by 17 clubs for the penny to drop.

He’s not the first and won’t be the last player who needs to be shown the door to wake up

Oh, he was undoubtedly great for a solid period and from very early on. And you may well be right about him trimming down and getting back to something like his best. I suspect you're a far, far better judge than me.

I just get the feeling he's done as an A grader. I can see him becoming a solid contributer but not much better.

On 02/12/2025 at 18:18, Bombay Airconditioning said:

From memory when Oliver had the meeting with King he was told he’d have to expand his game and be flexible in playing other positions rather than just in the middle. Today an article an about Jack Steele where he’s quoted as saying “I’m a midfielder, I’ve always been a midfielder. So why wouldn’t I still try and play in that position. That was part of Melbourne’s pitch, that I was going to be playing in the midfield. Is that really how Oliver’s meeting went down? Who knows, who cares…. His time at Melbourne was well and truly up, we’re all aware of his greatness for a period time but also how frustrating the last couple of years have been. Looking forward to next season and getting to Melbourne for a few games, I think we’re going to do a lot better than most people think.

Re being only a midfielder, think it was put to Olivier that if that continued to be the case then he likely spend time in the vfl, maybe that was just the pitch to get him to go or maybe that also applies to Steele to

On 02/12/2025 at 10:02, Temporarily Hopeful Demon said:

Pure insanity. He's not even in the same league as numerous contemporary players like Bont, Danger, Dusty, Franklin, Ablett Jnr and Gawn let alone Ablett Snr and Carey.

I disagree Clarry was every bit as good as Bont Danger & Dusty & way better than Cripps who’s won 2 Brownlows 20-2022

Since his injury mid 2023, he has let himself & the club down massively

I’m happy to support who’s at the club now

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by Billy

3 minutes ago, Billy said:

I disagree Clarry was every bit as good as Bont Danger & Dusty & way better than Cripps who’s won 2 Brownlows 20-2022

Since his injury mid 2023, he has let himself & the club down massively

I’m happy to support who’s at the club now

Nah.

Bont, Danger and Dusty could also go up forward and kick goals. They had flexibility in their game, Oliver doesn't.

For instance, the highest tallies of goals in one season by Oliver was only 12 and that was back in 2018.

Bont 32 goals in 2024

Dusty 33 goals in 2011

Dangerfield 45 goals in 2017

32 minutes ago, Billy said:

I disagree Clarry was every bit as good as Bont Danger & Dusty & way better than Cripps who’s won 2 Brownlows 20-2022

Since his injury mid 2023, he has let himself & the club down massively

I’m happy to support who’s at the club now

Nope. Bont is 30 years old and is still among the best players in the game, while Oliver hasn't been anywhere near the top since 2022. He also has 7 AA selections while Oliver has 3.

Danger is 35 years old and is still playing high quality football. His preliminary final against Hawthorn was out of this world. We haven't seen Oliver produce a game like that since god knows when.

And as @dazzledavey36 said, those two players, along with Dusty, have the ability to go forward and kick multiple goals. Midfielders who can impact forward of centre are worth their weight in gold in the modern game. As good as Oliver was in his prime, he's always lacked that trait.

Longetivity plays a big part in how I view players. It's why I believe Gawn will go down as far better MFC player than Oliver.

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by Temporarily Hopeful Demon

54 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Nah.

Bont, Danger and Dusty could also go up forward and kick goals. They had flexibility in their game, Oliver doesn't.

For instance, the highest tallies of goals in one season by Oliver was only 12 and that was back in 2018.

Bont 32 goals in 2024

Dusty 33 goals in 2011

Dangerfield 45 goals in 2017

Oliver had the potential to be a great player for MFC. Even a Hall of Famer if his trajectory had continued after 2022. Comparisons to Bont, Dusty and Danger are a little unfair - he is not that type of player.

When compared to others like him - Crippa, Tom Green are current players that are in the same mould. I think Trac was the players that played similar to Bont, Dusty and Danger but those players are cleary better than Trac IMO.

16 hours ago, Demonsone said:

Goodwin and Co failed Oliver by giving a player senior games after missing preseason which ruined the culture, not to mention Tracs post injury.

On 02/12/2025 at 12:17, Cranky Franky said:

People assert this all the time.

It can be the mark of a great player or it can mean you just happen to have a good season the year your team won a flag.

It really is both. In a lousy team the B & F may not have even played as well as the guy who came 4th in most other teams' B&F ( nor did he come close to All-Australian selection.) Then again I don't think any team felt that Garry Ablett was mediocre in the year he won his Brownlow with the struggling Suns. A B&F with the premiers is a great indicator of a fantastic year. But one player can only do so much (Ablett) and conversely having superstars around you can help lift up every player in that team.

On 02/12/2025 at 12:41, The heart beats true said:

Was one of the three Judd McVee, because clearly he’ll say anything to anyone?

Still too soon 😅

On 02/12/2025 at 05:48, Wrecker46 said:

Even though I want the best for Clarrie it will break my heart if he becomes the third, unless he requests a trade back to us and gets his last one at Melbourne. To be honest I think he will ask to come back

While Kingy’s at the helm I can’t see Claz being welcomed back.

Yesterday Kingy asked me what I think of the new guys and I said “100% happy. it’s clear the No-[censored] Policy is still in place coz there’s not a single [censored] on our list.”

Kingy said, “That’s because we’ve got rid of them already.”

Edit: the censored word is an anagram of Hick-Dead.

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by Ghostwriter

3 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Kingy said, “That’s because we’ve got rid of them already.”

Regardless of what's out in public, we never wanted Oliver (and Petracca) to stay.

Phrases like "we can't guarantee you midfield time" or the classics "we're going in a different direction" and "we want to prioritise youth", are just face-saving sops.

On 02/12/2025 at 06:33, picket fence said:

Nup every bit as good, and without the extreme baggage of these two!

Oliver was nowhere near their level, give me a break.

6 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Nah.

Bont, Danger and Dusty could also go up forward and kick goals. They had flexibility in their game, Oliver doesn't.

For instance, the highest tallies of goals in one season by Oliver was only 12 and that was back in 2018.

Bont 32 goals in 2024

Dusty 33 goals in 2011

Dangerfield 45 goals in 2017

The mark of a great midfielder is being able to kick goals. In the modern game it's a must. Oliver was a very creative player, contested beast, great with his hands. But his general kicking and inability to hit the scoreboard has him a level below those guys.

Dusty and Bont are easily a level above Oliver nevermind guys like Ablett, Judd etc Only a one eyed Melbourne supporter would even consider the comparison.

3 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

The mark of a great midfielder is being able to kick goals. In the modern game it's a must. Oliver was a very creative player, contested beast, great with his hands. But his general kicking and inability to hit the scoreboard has him a level below those guys.

Dusty and Bont are easily a level above Oliver nevermind guys like Ablett, Judd etc Only a one eyed Melbourne supporter would even consider the comparison.

Absolutely