1 hour ago, dice said:

afl.com.au

BARRETT: Oliver and Petracca draw first blood, relieved D...

The extraordinary trade period that saw two all-time greats leave Melbourne could still end up a win-win for all parties, writes Damian Barrett

"I don't really care what Clayton says."

Round 12 against the Giants should be interesting!

A quote from the article stood out…

‘And now the Demons, who don't get to open their 2026 season until Sunday in a game against St Kilda, were forced to witness the two produce matches that would rank somewhere among their very best…’

Tracc was incredible in his Suns debut game and deserves the credit, but I’ve seen Clayton play a lot at Melbourne from 2017-22, and his performance on the weekend honestly wouldn’t rank in his 40 best performances. He was pretty good. That’s all. Nothing more.

He’s still a long way of what he was. A long way.

11 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

A quote from the article stood out…

‘And now the Demons, who don't get to open their 2026 season until Sunday in a game against St Kilda, were forced to witness the two produce matches that would rank somewhere among their very best…’

Tracc was incredible in his Suns debut game and deserves the credit, but I’ve seen Clayton play a lot at Melbourne from 2017-22, and his performance on the weekend honestly wouldn’t rank in his 40 best performances. He was pretty good. That’s all. Nothing more.

He’s still a long way of what he was. A long way.

Yep compare Oliver's game last Saturday to what he served up in our 1 point loss against Adelaide back in 2021. Not in the same [censored] ballpark.

6 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

A quote from the article stood out…

‘And now the Demons, who don't get to open their 2026 season until Sunday in a game against St Kilda, were forced to witness the two produce matches that would rank somewhere among their very best…’

Tracc was incredible in his Suns debut game and deserves the credit, but I’ve seen Clayton play a lot at Melbourne from 2017-22, and his performance on the weekend honestly wouldn’t rank in his 40 best performances. He was pretty good. That’s all. Nothing more.

He’s still a long way of what he was. A long way.

Traccs game was awesome. If he keeps hitting leading targets like he did in that game, he’s going to be incredibly damaging. He didn’t do that at Melbourne with anywhere near the same consistency. I don’t think I saw him hit leading forwards 2-3 times in a single game.

On the other hand, to say that could be one of Oliver’s best games, is literally insulting to his earlier career, haha.

2 hours ago, dice said:

afl.com.au

BARRETT: Oliver and Petracca draw first blood, relieved D...

The extraordinary trade period that saw two all-time greats leave Melbourne could still end up a win-win for all parties, writes Damian Barrett

"I don't really care what Clayton says."

Round 12 against the Giants should be interesting!

Not caring what Clayton says? It'll never catch on!

On 08/03/2026 at 09:48, Pennant St Dee said:

I understand all the stuff regarding leg drive from stoppages and how the game has gone to more of a transition game, but do not consider Oliver’s game to be like Mitchell.

Oliver won a lot of contested footy and fed it off, there wasn’t much cheap around the back of stoppage possessions.

The run from halfback and regular handball receive the Giants went with suited Oliver yesterday.

I had Callahan down amongst the best and both Stringer and Fonti had impact, but we see things differently overall

The one thing did like about his performance was the lightning hands and vision out of stoppages was back. To your point, the Giants fed off that really well.

Happy to give him the kudos for his game. I do wonder if it will be as effective going forward but we'll wait and see.

17 hours ago, Redleg said:

Think that was Dean Wallis.

Remember who the Bombers’ coach was.

Hardwick and Wallis both attacked Green at the same time, two thugs against an 18yo.

FWIW I watched Claz on the weekend and didnt think his game was as good as the media are making it out to be. he was doing that for us even to his final days..... glad hes back at it though but cmon

On 06/03/2026 at 22:03, picket fence said:

Hmnn underestimate me and my intellect?? Ok go ahead! A lot here think I'm unhinged, better check ur own skeletons under the bed!!

I'm old school - I keep mine in the cupboard.

1 hour ago, Demonology said:

FWIW I watched Claz on the weekend and didnt think his game was as good as the media are making it out to be. he was doing that for us even to his final days..... glad hes back at it though but cmon

I watched the game too, ans agree. He was solid for sure, but he was fir us too in most games last season.

But he doesn't look to have got any faster, which I reckon is his biggest weakness now.

It will be interesting when Greene gets back as he's not super quick and the way footy is being played atm I don't think teams can carry more than plodder in the midfield.

Agree with the general sentiments regarding Clarry.

He was good, but not THAT good. Not even very good?

I think (surprise surprise) the media is just looking for any opportunity to frame this as (solely) a Melbourne problem - i.e. those 2 guys are now blitzing it elsewhere (so it must have been us). Clarry played much like that in 2025, and I don't remember the media applauding him then?

Clarry was just nowhere near his best. AND it's just the start. Let's see him string a few of those together once the novelty of a new club/point to prove wears off. And the fitness/lack of is tested. And he's put under pressure by an opponent.

Don't get me wrong, I was a huge Clarry fan. And in a vacuum I still wish he was with us, but I didn't see anything that made me think we will miss out. I'd rather the kids we have on deck, who are hungry and look fit. There's the future.

Trac, on the other hand, was very good. But we know most/some of the issue was not his ability as such. Although I wish he had hit more of our guys on the chest like that, but that could/likely points back to the guys we had leading for the ball!

The media are raving about his game because he's set the bar so low over the 2024-2025 period compared to his halcyon days prior to mid 2023.

Does anyone remember the day he had 38 touches and 3 goals against Adelaide in a rare 2021 loss? You couldn't get a more complete midfielders game than that one. Last Saturday was not in the same stratosphere as that one.

With that being said, he was second best on the ground from the people that know the game the best - the GWS and Hawthorn coaches.

3 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

The media are raving about his game because he's set the bar so low over the 2024-2025 period compared to his halcyon days prior to mid 2023.

Does anyone remember the day he had 38 touches and 3 goals against Adelaide in a rare 2021 loss? You couldn't get a more complete midfielders game than that one. Last Saturday was not in the same stratosphere as that one.

With that being said, he was second best on the ground from the people that know the game the best - the GWS and Hawthorn coaches.

That game was seriously something else....

1 hour ago, Demonology said:

FWIW I watched Claz on the weekend and didnt think his game was as good as the media are making it out to be. he was doing that for us even to his final days..... glad hes back at it though but cmon

They just certainly love building narratves. And this is the next chapter in the Melbourne Demons playbook. Just get used to this fact

28 minutes ago, binman said:

I watched the game too, ans agree. He was solid for sure, but he was fir us too in most games last season.

But he doesn't look to have got any faster, which I reckon is his biggest weakness now.

It will be interesting when Greene gets back as he's not super quick and the way footy is being played atm I don't think teams can carry more than plodder in the midfield.

i agree his defense is non existant and looked very slow

After all the club did to help him with his off-field issues, Oliver is still making snarky comments about Melbourne.

It's time to say thanks for his early contributions but now it's not only goodbye but good riddance.

50 minutes ago, binman said:

I'm old school - I keep mine in the cupboard.

Lot of deluded people here with collective amnesia. Let me count the misdemenours 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 etc, etc

It’s funny how the media throng never get into the dogs for losing Bailey smith and Dunkley, or even Adelaide when they lost Danger.

Even more perplexing is now that Grundy is performing well , it’s the Demons who let him go, and no mention of the Pies at all.

They just love sinking the boots into this club of ours at every opportunity.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

The media are raving about his game because he's set the bar so low over the 2024-2025 period compared to his halcyon days prior to mid 2023.

Does anyone remember the day he had 38 touches and 3 goals against Adelaide in a rare 2021 loss? You couldn't get a more complete midfielders game than that one. Last Saturday was not in the same stratosphere as that one.

With that being said, he was second best on the ground from the people that know the game the best - the GWS and Hawthorn coaches.

We are probably judging him harder than if he was in red and blue. Nothing compares to that Adelaide game. Player rating of over 40!

But the GWS game was his highest rated game since 2022, and his top dozen since 2020.

22 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

Lot of deluded people here with collective amnesia. Let me count the misdemenours 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 etc, etc

Que?

22 minutes ago, Watson11 said:

We are probably judging him harder than if he was in red and blue. Nothing compares to that Adelaide game. Player rating of over 40!

But the GWS game was his highest rated game since 2022, and his top dozen since 2020.

Interesting very! That plus coaches endorsement, sees him back on track!😇🤩