Sydney Swans v Melbourne: All the news and analysis leading in to opening round

Clayton Oliver is still ‘having ups and downs’ but is ready to go against Sydney on Thursday and is a ‘scary’ prospect according to his skipper Max Gawn.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 16: Max Gawn of the Demons is congratulated by Clayton Oliver after kicking a goal during the round five AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Melbourne captain Max Gawn says superstar midfielder Clayton Oliver is on a mission to win back the trust of his teammates and the footy world after a turbulent off-season.

Gawn said Oliver could be a “scary” prospect this season and was adamant his return was not rushed for the AFL season-opener against Sydney Swans at the SCG on Thursday night.

Melbourne has attempted to sharpen its forward conversion over summer and has scored 94 and 101 points in its two pre-season games following a straight-sets finals exit.

But all eyes will be on Oliver, the four-time best and fairest winner whose future at the club was up in the air in the trade period last year amid concerns around some of his behaviour and personal standards.

Demons skipper Max Gawn is excited to play again with Clayton Oliver. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Gawn said the club held more talks with Oliver this week about his comeback and personal growth and was convinced the ball magnet was back on the right track off the field.

“Clayton has had an incredible little journey over this last little bit, since the pre-season started, and he is still having ups and downs,” Gawn said.

“But he has had a really good eight or nine weeks, he has played in two VFL games and he is ready to play, ready to go.

“We had some good discussions this week with Clayton involved, and all he wants to do is win back the trust of the community and his teammates.

“If you can imagine, Clayton Oliver out there playing to win the trust of his teammates, he is going to be a pretty scary player.

“I’m excited to get out there with him.”

GAWN V GRUNDY

The ruck battle against Grundy, a two-time all-Australian, will also be a major drawcard as the former Demon and Magpie looks to re-establish his reputation as one of the game’s top ruckmen in 2024.

Gawn said he imagined Grundy would want to prove a point to the Demons’ hierarchy, who made the bombshell call to drop him to the VFL last year to improve his forward craft.

“The Brodie I know is quite calm and relaxed,” Gawn said.

“But anyone who has been sought of gone out of two teams now and found a new place, I feel like you would (want to prove a point).

“And to play Round 1 against your old team, I feel like that might be a bit of his thought process going into the game.

“But he doesn’t need to prove anything to me and I dare say he doesn’t need to prove anything to his teammates.”

Brodie Grundy will face his old team Melbourne for the first time on Thursday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sydney defender Dane Rampe said Grundy hasn’t coughed up much on his former Melbourne teammates in the planning for the game this week.

“Brodie hasn’t given us anything,” Rampe said.

“He couldn’t say many more nice things about you guys, it has actually been quite frustrating for us.

“We were asking him to give us an insight and he just plays a straight bat.”

The Demons lost both of their finals last year despite having eight more scoring shots than Carlton in the semi-final and 32 more inside 50s than Collingwood in the qualifying final.

“We have focused on our finishing and inside 50 kicks and our forward line a little bit this pre-season as well as our two strengths,” Gawn said.

“We think our defence and contest are still our two greatest strengths, so we have got to keep improving that and tried to get in that groove with the forward line stuff.

“Hopefully you will see a little bit of that.”