AFL draft 2015: How Clayton Oliver became this year’s bolter after he was snubbed by Vic Country
CLAYTON Oliver started the season as a heavy onballer who didn’t even have the AFL draft in his sights. In fact, he was not even selected for this year’s under-18 national carnival.
WHEN Melbourne traded up from pick No. 6 to No. 3 in the national draft, it did not have Clayton Oliver in its sights.
In fact, when Oliver started the season as a heavy onballer he didn’t even have Tuesday night’s AFL draft in his sights.
Oliver was not even selected for this year’s under-18 national carnival after Vic Country decided he was not up to the required standard.
The Mooroopna youngster had crossed from Bendigo Pioneers to Murray Bushrangers this year, battled osteitis pubis pre-season and planned on returning to the TAC Cup as a 19-year-old next season to push his AFL chances.
So how did he come to wake up the next day the happiest Demon in the world — crowned the best midfielder in the open draft?
It has been a remarkable rise, a bolt towards the top like we have never seen before.
Oliver’s twist began after the Country snub. As the TAC Cup standard dropped, his numbers, fitness and confidence dramatically rose.
A powerful inside midfielder who was also deployed as a dangerous marking forward, Murray Bushrangers coach Darren Ogier said there wasn’t a player who could compete with Oliver’s strength over the ball.
“He took the competition apart,” Ogier said.
“There was no one who could match Clayton for strength — not even (strong GWS on-baller) Jacob Hopper.”
Interestingly, Ogier will follow Oliver to the Demons after winning a development role.
Recruiters believe Oliver could be the next Ollie Wines.
“They both have big, thick bodies, big long kicks and great attack at man and ball — powerful midfielders with good speed,” one expert said.
Like Wines, Oliver boasts a big frame and held his own in two VFL games for Richmond, returning to the Bushrangers believing this could be his year, most likely as a late draft pick.
“He just had that look in his eye,” Bushrangers talent manager Lee Fraser said.
Oliver’s confidence just kept growing. In the final five TAC Cup games he produced three best-afields and was twice runner-up.
The Tigers wanted him at pick 12 and, as Oliver rattled to the line, he also won the TAC Cup league medal. That can be a warning sign.
Of the past 18 winners only four have been drafted. Most of the best players miss too many games because of their Country or Metro commitments, but Oliver isn’t most players.
When told he had been invited to the draft combine — a sign numerous AFL clubs want you physically tested — he didn’t know what it meant.
School friend Josh Schache informed him and Oliver’s jaw nearly hit the ground.
Oliver finished the season unfit. Oliver’s skinfolds measured 96 when they should have about been 50.
A diet and rigorous training program later — he was up running at 8.30am and wouldn’t eat until after 10am — he lost 4kg and sliced his folds to 59.
Then came the combine. Oliver smashed the agility and goalkicking tests, ran well and was firmly a top 10 pick.
A “young bull” is what some internally at the Demons called him — a better nickname than “Clarry”, which stuck at the Bushrangers after a coach got his name wrong.
But after infamously taking Jimmy Toumpas over Wines, would the Demons really pick the aggressive Oliver ahead of back-to-back All-Australian jet Darcy Parish?
“You could see (development coach) Brendan McCartney wanting him,” a rival scout said.
“County kid, big body and a contested player. Improving out of sight and the Murray boys only train together once a week so they’re quite underdeveloped.”
Still, most clubs had Parish on top, including Hawthorn chief Graham Wright and one talent spotter suggested Oliver “would get nose bleeds” if he went as high as the first round.
Oliver tops off Melbourne’s glut of prized young midfielders but plenty of early picks at the Demons have gone bust.
“I do pride myself on being competitive,” Oliver said.
“I always have ever since I was little. I just see the ball and want to get the ball. I always want to win. I never want to lose.”
And experts are backing him to go boom.
TON OF PROMISE
Ollie Wines v Clayton Oliver
Height: 185cm / 187cm
Weight: 83kg / 86kg
SuperCoach points: 145 / 135
Disposals: 25 / 24
Contested possessions: 15 / 14
Clearances: 6 / 6
Tackles: 8 / 6
Goals: 1 / 1
*Averages from final TAC Cup season
Source: CHAMPION DATA
Originally published as AFL draft 2015: How Clayton Oliver became this year’s bolter after he was snubbed by Vic Country
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