Clayton Oliver shines again as Melbourne ramps up pre-season with match sim

Watch out AFL — Clayton Oliver is back. The Melbourne star took another big step toward returning to his best on Friday, blitzing an A vs B team match sim.

Clayton Oliver made significant strides in his return back to his brilliant best with a dominant performance in Melbourne’s match simulation on Friday.

In the absence of stars Steven May (Indigenous All Stars) and Christian Petracca (still non-contact), Oliver lit up the “A” against “B” match.

Petracca, who is still coming back from a rib injury, remained heavily involved despite not playing by speaking to the midfielders at length during the breaks.

Oliver started in the middle of the “A” team alongside Max Gawn, Trent Rivers and Ed Langdon.

Clayton Oliver’s brilliant pre-season continued on Friday. Picture: Michael Klein

The 27-year-old had very few breaks off the ground in the first half and would have gathered upwards of 20 disposals.

He didn’t have as big of an impact in the second half of the match but, positively, remained on the field and involved in the action.

Oliver played 21 games for the Demons in 2024 but was far from his best, averaging his lowest total of disposals per game since his first year in the competition.

“Yeah he’s been awesome, he’s come back in really good condition and I think he will be back to his best this year,” teammate Jacob van Rooyen said.

Asked if Oliver was officially back (to the Oliver of old): “Yeah, for sure.”

Included in the midfield rotation with Oliver, Rivers and Langdon was Tom Sparrow and top draft pick Harvey Langford.

Ed Langdon has been used as an inside midfielder. Picture: Michael Klein

While Langford didn’t show his best, his capacity to play an almost 50-50 split between midfield and forward would have excited the Demons fans out at Casey Fields.

Alongside Oliver as one of the Demons’ best in the first half was defender Jake Lever, who took command of the back six without May.

Lever displayed his power in the air while also getting close to 10 possessions in a strong first quarter.

Lever did not feature in the back end of the match and it was extremely noticeable in how well the Demons stacked up defensively.

Former Eagle Jai Culley has been training with Melbourne.

The starting back six for team “A” beside Lever was Tom McDonald, Harrison Petty, Christian Salem, Jake Bowey and Blake Howes.

One of the more impressive players for the “B” side was former West Coast Eagle Jai Culley.

Culley found a stack of the footy at stoppages as well as around the ground and even kicked a centre-clearance goal on the run from outside 50.

Culley has been training at Melbourne but is unable to sign with the Demons through SSP unless a player is put on the long-term injury list.

He has committed to playing with Melbourne’s VFL affiliate Casey in 2025.

Mature-age draft pick Aidan Johnson proved a threat on the scoreboard and in the air up forward for the “B” team.

Johnson was particularly dangerous in the first half despite Lever’s presence and the result leaning towards one side.

Shane McAdam, who was playing as a deep small forward in the “A”team, was the only serious injury casualty for the Dees.

McAdam was looking lively with two shots on goal in the first term before he was helped from the ground and into the rooms unable to put any weight on his left foot.

McAdam played just three senior games for Melbourne in 2024 after crossing from Adelaide via trade at the end of 2023.

Originally published as Clayton Oliver shines again as Melbourne ramps up pre-season with match sim