Melbourne on-baller Clayton Oliver’s has come in for praise after his dominant performance in Saturday’s 33-point win over Brisbane.
Having already won the AFLCA Coaches Champion Player Award this season and made his second All-Australian team, Oliver picked up 33 disposals, kicked a goal and had 10 score involvements in his side’s strong qualifying final victory.
With his season going from strength to strength, AFL great Kane Cornes has labelled him the competition’s “best pure midfielder”.
“He’s a different player, I think he’s the best pure midfielder in the game right now,” Cornes said on AFL.com.au’s The Round So Far.
“What he has done is improved a number of facets of his game, his running power now, well it’s extraordinary, the way he can burst out of stoppages.
“He looks fit, he looks lean, he’s definitely lost a few kilograms in the off-season, and his ball use was exquisite, his touch and kicking.
“He had four direct goal assists to go along with 18 contested possessions, seven clearances, 10 score involvements.”
Cornes believes Oliver’s form is that strong that he could well find himself with further accolades at the end of September.
“He’s the coaches player of the year for a reason, and he may just be a Norm Smith Medallist or the Michael Tuck Medallist as the best finals player,”
“His performance against good competition…he set it up for them from the start and it was fitting he was the player of the night.”