Leather poisoning: Mooroopna’s Clayton Oliver had the ball on a string in Melbourne’s 47-point win over North. Photo: AAP/Scott Barbour
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SCOTT BARBOUR
Clayton Oliver continued his golden start to the 2022 season, racking up a career-high 45 disposals in Melbourne’s 47-point win over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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Staking his claim to be the best player in the game, Oliver was at his scintillating best against the Kangaroos, collecting 22 contested possessions and winning a staggering 11 clearances.
The Echuca product also showcased his development as an all-round midfielder, driving the Demons inside 50 on 13 occasions and using the ball at a respectable 67 per cent.
Polling a maximum 10 votes from the coaches, the performance now puts Oliver atop the AFL Coaches’ Association Player of the Year leaderboard, eight clear of Carlton captain Patrick Cripps.
While his Kangaroos lost on the day, Mooroopna export Jy Simpkin showed plenty against the might of the Melbourne midfield.
Matching up against his close childhood friend Oliver, Simpkin flew the flag for the struggling Roos, picking up 21 disposals, taking six marks and laying three tackles.
In terms of the match itself, North threw everything it had at the reigning premier, finding itself within two goals late in the third term courtesy of Simpkin and company’s work through the midfield.
But as all great sides do, Melbourne lifted in the final term to secure the eight-goal victory.
New lease on life: Shepparton product Will Brodie is going from strength to strength as a Fremantle Docker. Photo: AAP/Gary Day
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GARY DAY
Shepparton’s Will Brodie continues to thrive as a Fremantle Docker, registering a game-high 36 disposals in the 36-point loss to Collingwood on Sunday afternoon.
A shining light on what was an otherwise dour day for the Dockers, Brodie utilised the wet conditions to perfection, picking up 20 contested possessions and winning 11 clearances.
He also continues to improve his ball use, going at an impressive 69 per cent, and hit the scoreboard with a crucial major.
Fellow Dockers midfielder and Seymour product David Mundy was also prolific, registering 34 disposals.
Living proof that age is just a number, Mundy did all he could to lift his struggling team, laying three tackles, picking up seven intercept possessions and sending Fremantle inside 50 on six occasions.
Welcome back: Euroa’s Jamie Elliott made his return to the Collingwood line-up in the win over Fremantle. Photo: AAP/Gary Day
Photo by
GARY DAY
For Collingwood, Tallygaroopna’s Steele Sidebottom starred in the upset victory as he continues to settle into a new role on the wing.
Collecting 23 disposals, the 31-year-old was as composed as ever with ball in hand and constantly provided an option on the outside, taking four marks.
Euroa’s Jamie Elliott made a successful return from injury for the Pies, picking up 13 disposals and laying four tackles in the victory.
While he didn’t hit the scoreboard, the live-wire small showed enough to suggest he will have a major influence in Collingwood’s run to the finals.
Rookie phenom Josh Rachele suffered the first setback of his young career on Saturday night, being subbed in the final quarter of Adelaide’s loss to St Kilda with a corked thigh.
Adelaide high performance manager Darren Burgess provided an update on the Shepparton Swans product on Tuesday morning.
“Josh sustained a reasonable quad cork and he’ll be managed this week and we’ll see how he goes,” Burgess told AFC Media.
“We’ll give him every chance to come up for the weekend. He will do a modified session on Wednesday and give him every chance to train on Friday and play on Saturday.”
