AFL news: Clayton Oliver undergoes surgery on thumb to fix niggling issue
Melbourne has confirmed one of its best players has been foreced to undergo surgery, but he will be back sooner than you might expect.
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Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver has undergone surgery on his thumb to fix a niggling problem in his right hand.
The Demons on Wednesday confirmed Oliver, 25, had gone under the knife to get on top of a minor issue which had been bothering him in recent weeks.
The injury is expected to fully heal over the next few weeks, allowing Oliver to return to full training when his teammates come back from their Christmas break next month.
The thumb surgery isn’t expected to have a major impact on his preparation for the new season as the Demons attempt to bounce back from their straight sets exit in last year’s finals series.
Oliver is renowned for his toughness inside the clinches but the Demons decided it was best to clean-up the injury before summer training ramps up and the scratch matches begin after Christmas.
In particular, Melbourne want Oliver to be ready to fine-tune his new partnership with new ruck recruit Brodie Grundy in the new year after his shock departure from Collingwood last year.
Grundy has been training impressively in recent weeks and will join forces with Max after a knee injury wiped out Grundy’s 2022 season.
The Demons are in good shape on the fitness front, although Ben Brown is working his way back from another knee setback.
News Corp revealed last month key forward Brown had also undergone post season surgery on his knee in a fresh blow which had delayed his training until the new year.
Oliver, who trained with the rest of the group on Saturday, will spend Christmas with his thumb in a guard and his arm in a sling.
The jet ballwinner is one of the best players in the competition after another exceptional season in 2022, winning his fourth best club champion award and third All-Australian jacket.
Oliver also won the AFL coaches association player of the year award for the second season in a row this year.
JVR to fix Dees’ forward woes
— Glenn McFarlane, Chris Cavanagh and Jon Ralph
An untried young talent and an injury-prone veteran are giving Melbourne hope that it can overcome the key forward issues that partly derailed its premiership defence this year.
Track watchers have noted the solid pre-season form of Jacob Van Rooyen, who is yet to play a senior game but came so close last season, and premiership forward Tom McDonald, who only managed nine games in 2023 due to injury.
The Demons struggled to get bang for their buck when going forward last season, with their forward mix an endless source of debate.
With Sam Weideman traded to Essendon and Luke Jackson finding a new home at Fremantle, the Demons are certain to give Van Rooyen a chance to finally debut early in the year.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LATEST PRE-SEASON INTEL
The 20-year-old 191cm forward, who was emergency on a number of occasions last season, has been one of the Demons to impress on the track so far this pre-season.
McDonald, 30, suffered a Lisfranc injury in Round 10, which ruined his season. He tried to come back through the VFL, but was unsuccessful in getting back for the club’s finals run.
The Demons are hopeful McDonald can make a big difference again next year given some luck with injury, with the club wrapping up their last pre-season session of the year on Friday.
Meanwhile, Charlie Spargo said the hard work of the Demons’ youngsters — including Van Rooyen — has given the more established players the drive to keep pushing themselves.
“It’s really impressive to see the young guys come back in such good condition,” Spargo told the club’s website.
“Not only does it help them heading into the rest of pre-season, but it also drives the rest of the group and gets us senior guys going as well, so it’s been a really good start. ”
Heppell responds to Bombers captaincy speculation
Essendon veteran Dyson Heppell says he is “more than happy” to step aside and hand over the captaincy reigns next year if the playing group decides a change would be the best thing for the club.
Heppell has served as skipper since 2017 and was one of only four Bombers to play every game this season.
However, he turns 31 next May and signed only a one-year contract extension for 2023 late this year.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as skipper, but I’m not tied to the role at all,” Heppell said.
“If the group and the club feel that there’s someone else that’s better off to lead the group going forward, then I’m more than happy to step down and hand the reins over.
“We’ll see how it all plays out over the next few months. We’re in no rush to make that call, but there’s certainly some really strong leaders that will be ready to take the reins if that’s the case.”
Heppell said he had “no idea” whether relinquishing the captaincy would be a weight off his shoulder and help his own game, but he said he did want to still be at Essendon to support the club’s next captain when the change came.
“I want to be there still while the next captain comes through and help mentor, help guide and develop them as well,” he said.
The Bombers had only a three-man leadership group this year, with Zach Merrett serving as vice-captain under Heppell, and Andrew McGrath filling the role as deputy vice-captain.
A fit and refreshed Heppell said he was enjoying his best start to pre-season in years, which he hoped would translate to him to playing some good football next year.
“It’s the first time in a while I’ve been able to put in a body of work prior to Christmas,” Heppell said at the AFL’s announcement of a new four-year deal with Asahi Beverages.
“It always helps, being healthy coming this time of year to set yourself up for the start of the season and leading into the back end of the year as well. So it’s been awesome actually.”
Earlier, Bombers best-and-fairest winner Peter Wright launched an impassioned defence of Heppell’s captaincy as the veteran defender ponders whether to hand on the baton after six years in charge.
New Essendon coach Brad Scott said a decision on who would captain the club next year could still be “a couple of months” away, but he said Heppell would have a “key role” to play one way or another.
The Dons have not won a final under Heppell’s tenure, with a series of below-par performances including a 30-tackle effort against Sydney this year contributing to the sacking of coach Ben Rutten.
Heppell eventually signed another contract at Essendon after briefly considering moving to the Gold Coast, and at 30 could decide it is time to concentrate on his football.
But while Heppell has at times been seen as overly positive in his leadership even after horror defeats, Wright made clear the 30-year-old was Essendon’s most authoritative leader.
He told the Herald Sun it would be up to Heppell what he wanted to do while a group of younger players under him desperately attempted to improve leadership depth.
“He is one of the best people I have met in football, Dyson. He is an incredible leader. He speaks to the group really well. It’s up to him if he wants to carry that (mantle) again. I am definitely not taking down ‘Hepp’ unless he wants to pass it on,” he said.
“I think with everything ‘Hepp’ has had to carry he always turns up the same person, an incredibly optimistic person and a really great connector in the group.
“I feel like what stood out to me is in challenging times when we have had challenging meetings or performances he is the one that really galvanises the group, speaks really well to the group, and can sum up really well with an emphatic ending. Not a grand speech, just makes clear the feelings of the group really strongly.”
Essendon’s leadership group in 2022 consisted of Heppell, vice-captain Zach Merrett and deputy vice-captain Andy McGrath.
“Dyson Heppell has made a fantastic start to pre-season. I’ve admired Dyson from afar for a long time but seeing him up close, I can see why he’s been such an important part of the Essendon fabric over a long period of time,” Scott said.
“He’ll have a key role to play for us next year, but in terms of finalising what that leadership structure looks like, I suspect it will take us the first couple of months of next year before we get to that stage.
“ … I’m not of the view that you need a certain number in your leadership group.
“It’s who we think is best placed to fill those roles.”
In recent years when the bottom has dropped out of the club’s performance there have been too few senior players prepared to stand up to change the course of a game.
“If he doesn’t (want to continue) it’s an exciting opportunity for someone else to step into that void again and if he doesn’t there would be a number of players capable not just of captaincy but to become better leaders, which is really important with a young group,” Wright said.
“There are guys putting in a heap of work to do that and being really vocal on the track. I think the players are excited to grow their own leadership.”
CHRIS CAVAVANGH’S TRAINING NOTES
WONDERFUL WEID
Former Melbourne forward Sam Weideman is impressing his new teammates and coaches, who have vowed to provide him with more AFL opportunities next season.
Weideman, 25, has been one of the standouts on the track in the early part of pre-season and was working nicely as a second tall forward alongside Peter Wright during some match simulation at training on Wednesday.
The 197cm forward had struggled to hold down a spot in the Melbourne side since debuting in 2016, having played a total of 59 AFL games including 10 this year.
“He couldn’t have impressed everyone more – his attitude, his professionalism, his intensity on the track,” new Essendon coach Brad Scott said.
“Sometimes players just need the opportunity. He played some really good footy at Melbourne when he had the opportunity, but he also had some really good players competing for a similar spot. We think we can provide the opportunity, provided Sam holds up his end of the bargain.”
WARNING ON WALLA
Insiders at Essendon are saying that Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is in a far better spot with his training than he was at the same time last year.
But the fan favourite is still far from a certainty to be back in action at the start of next season.
McDonald-Tipungwuti was moving freely on the track on Wednesday and completed some signature chase downs during match simulation, much to the delight of supporters watching on.
However, the 29-year-old forward still has a way to go, with his last senior game having come in Round 21, 2021.
“The fans should be excited and we’re excited, but I would stress that he hasn’t played footy for 18 months,” Scott said.
“It’s going to take a fair bit of time for him to get back somewhere near his best. We’re hoping he can get there, but it’s going to take some time and whether that’s early in the year next year or it take a bit longer, when you don’t play footy for 18 months you decondition and there’s a lot of work to do.”
STRINGER BUILDING
The Bombers have been happy with Jake Stringer’s progression after he battled groin soreness this year and was limited in what he could do post-season.
The 28-year-old only did a small amount of work on the track with the main group at training on Wednesday as he is carefully managed by the club’s fitness and medical staff.
However, Essendon expects Stringer to be “cherry ripe” in the New Year as he continues to “ramp up” his training in preparation for Round 1.
Stringer played 15 games this year, averaging 13.1 disposals and booting 25 goals.
SMILING SCOTT
A refreshed Scott is clearly enjoying his return to coaching so far, with the Bombers’ new mentor sporting a sizeable smile as he watched his new playing group train.
The former North Melbourne coach had spent the past three years working at AFL House in off-field roles, but looks happy to be out of the office and back on the track – even if he did have to rug up for a cold summer’s day at Tullamarine.
Scott even stuck around after training and got the pen out to sign some autographs and mingle with fans – not taking offence to any of those who wanted only player signatures on their jumpers.
WORKING THEIR WAY BACK
Key defender James Stewart (foot) and young forward Tex Wanganeen (foot) are still working their way back to fitness after battling injury issues this year.
Stewart spent a lot of Wednesday’s session running laps.
Also on running duties away from the main training group was father-son draftee Jayden Davey as he works his way back from an ACL injury he suffered at the start of this year.
Nick Cox, Kyle Langford and Harrison Jones are among those who are also being carefully managed after injury-interrupted years.
What’s Sheeds’ next move after Hird backing?
– Jon Ralph
Essendon expects Kevin Sheedy to remain as a long-term board member as new chief executive Craig Vozzo decides whether the club’s extraordinary personnel changes will continue.
The Dons have a new coach (Brad Scott), new president (David Barham) and four new board members (Dean Rioli, Tim Roberts, David Wills, Andrew Welsh) amid profound change at the club.
Sheedy made clear that he voted for club legend James Hird over Brad Scott, telling the Herald Sun he was “extremely disappointed” by the club saying Scott’s appointment was “fully endorsed”.
But amid calls for him to stand down Sheedy has the club’s backing with that board seen to be united and having brought in experts with skills that will help the club’s rise up the ladder.
Former player Welsh will be the football director, Rioli is the club’s first Indigenous board member, Wills will chair the club’s audit committee and property and construction expert Roberts helped build the club’s NEC Hangar.
Sheedy brings a wealth of football experience and has not been pressured to move on.
Vozzo will arrive at the Essendon from his role at West Coast on January 16 and will decide if more changes are needed after a series of reviews.
Essendon brought in Dan McPherson as the head of performance and Cam Roberts as the head of development with the development team boosted from two full roles and a part-timer to six full-time roles.
List boss Adrian Dodoro has at times been under pressure, but the club has made clear the development pathways were lacking and did not fast-track enough of the club’s elite talent.
The Dons again went back to the draft this year and brought in Sam Weideman and Will Setterfield for little trade outlay.
So Vozzo will have time to assess the club’s needs and strengths before taking charge of any other personnel changes.
The club secured Elijah Tsatas (pick 5), Lewis Hayes (pick 25), Alwyn Davey (pick 45), Jayden Davey (pick 54) and rookie Rhett Montgomerie as well as NGA talent Anthony Munkara.
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