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Lewis not out to spite Hawks2:33
Melbourne midfielder Jordan Lewis says he is not out to spite his old club Hawthorn when he plays them for the first time this weekend.
- May 2nd 2017
- 2 days ago
- /video/video.news.com.au/Sport/AFL/Shows/AFL 360/
Oliver has a bright future ahead.
MELBOURNE captain Nathan Jones has paid teammate Clayton Oliver a huge compliment, labelling him the best young talent he’s seen in more than a decade at the Demons.
While youngsters are often at risk of falling victim to “second year syndrome” when a gun debut year is followed by a significant drop off in performance, Oliver is continuing to impress.
After bursting on the scene in 2016 with a NAB Rising Star nomination, the midfielder wore the Demons guernsey 13 times last year and has played in all six of Melbourne’s 2017 clashes. He’s been sensational so far, averaging 32 touches, seven tackles and five marks a game in the opening month-and-a-half.
So dominant has Oliver been his skipper has already suggested a Brownlow Medal is within his reach this year.
“If I was a betting man, I’d get around him,” Jones said on SEN Breakfast. “I don’t reckon I’ve ever seen a better young player, to be honest, in 11 or 12 years of playing.”
The 19-year-old was caught drink driving in November last year, but Jones praised the way he’s rebounded from the setback and says he’s seen a new-found maturity in him since the incident.
Oliver’s en route to becoming a genuine superstar.Source:News Corp Australia
“I reckon from that moment he really has matured and just taken control of his career,” he said. “I saw a drastic change in his body shape and his commitment to his training and preparation. Obviously the start to the season he has had has been a significant reward for that and now he’s coupled that with being really driven and disciplined.
“We’re getting a really consistent player that’s just an absolute bull in the midfield.”
Essendon legend Tim Watson backed Jones’s assertion Oliver is a chance to be crowned the game’s best-and-fairest player in 2017.
“I’ve watched every game that he has played this year and there is a chance he would very much right now be in the voting for the Brownlow based on his performances this year,” Watson said.
Oliver will have another chance to display his star quality when Melbourne takes on Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday.
GODDARD BLASTS ‘RIDICULOUS’ HUGGING FURORE
Essendon star Brendon Goddard has taken a swipe at critics of Joe Daniher in the wake of some “weird” behaviour during the Bombers’ loss to Melbourne on the weekend.
A horror performance in front of goal by Daniher, where he kicked six behinds before finally slotting his first major, was a problem for the Dons as they went down 17.10 (112) to 10.14 (74) to Melbourne on Sunday. But his stray kicking wasn’t the only talking point of Daniher’s day.
The 23-year-old came under fire for an overly exuberant celebration after his first goal because his side was losing and he’d had nothing to crow about all day. Former greats also took aim at him for playfully hugging a clearly disinterested Michael Hibberd (a former teammate) at the start of the third quarter.
Melbourne great Garry Lyon, Geelong legend Billy Brownless and ex-Hawthorn ace Jason Dunstall were among those to give the left-footer a whack for his actions.
But Goddard came to his younger teammate’s defence on Thursday, questioning why people were suddenly taking offence when his affable nature wasn’t a problem earlier in the season.
“The approach to the criticism on Joey during the week was just ridiculous. If we turn the clock back a week to Anzac Day, he hugged (Collingwood player) Steele Sidebottom. He goes on to win the Anzac Day Medal and no-one says anything of it,” Goddard said on RSN radio.
“He hugged Ben Stratton in the first game against Hawthorn too. Nothing said. Trying to relate an act __like that to his performance on the weekend, missing goals, is just ridiculous.
“Joe works really hard on his game. We know as players, it’s obviously his role and he gets paid as a forward to kick goals, but he’s not going out there to deliberately try to miss. It’s not as black and white as everyone says. I love everyone’s opinion on the issue — everyone’s got an opinion now, don’t they?”
Daniher celebrated pretty heartily for someone who’d kicked 1.6.Source:AAP
Plenty of forwards have had the goalkicking yips before, but the fact Daniher was happy playing up during a match while clearly having some serious troubles is what ticked people off the most. Brownless and Dunstall took aim at Daniher on Wednesday.
“That was weird, I didn’t __like him doing that ... Hibberd didn’t want to have anything to do with it because he was quite embarrassed, he just wanted to play footy and Joe was grabbing him and hugging him. It was quite weird,” Brownless said on Triple M’s Rush Hour.
“I’m old fashioned, if I was the coach I would have been spewing,” Dunstall added. “I probably would have given him a spray for that. You can do that afterwards, you can do that in your own time but not when we’re trying to win the four points.”
Earlier in the week Lyon said Daniher’s petulance made him uncomfortable.
“He kicked 0.6 at that stage and maybe I’m old school, but I don’t like it, I don’t like it,” Lyon told afl.com.au. “I don’t think Michael Hibberd was all that comfortable.
“It was one of those strange games yesterday, there was a lot of bum patting — two each side from either side — it was almost an acknowledgment as if to say, ‘We’ve both come off tough, short breaks here so let’s just look after ourselves,’ particularly in that first half.”
HOGAN KEEN TO GET BACK ON THE FIELD
Jesse Hogan is reportedly keen to get back on the field.Source:Getty Images
Gun forward Jesse Hogan will return to training for Melbourne on Thursday with the AFL club believing he is eager to play against Hawthorn on Sunday. Hogan was granted a leave of absence last week following the death of his father Tony.
The 2015 Rising Star winner missed the Demons’ scrappy win over Essendon last week and has been left in control of when he will return to the side. But on first impressions on his return to the club, coach Simon Goodwin believes he’ll line up against the Hawks this weekend.
“He’ll train fully today and we’re really hopeful he’ll play on Sunday,” Goodwin said, “It’s great to have him back at the club. He’s in pretty good spirits for what he’s been going through.
“It’ll be get through main training with a view to playing this week. Jesse is keen to do that at this stage.”
Alongside Hogan, plenty of eyes will be on Jordan Lewis at the MCG. For the first time in 268 AFL games, Lewis will line up against the club he helped win four premierships. Goodwin admitted his veteran midfielder had been asked for reconnaissance but it would be of limited worth.
“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t spoken to him about Hawthorn. He was there for such a long period of success,” he said. “He’s shared some stuff but they’re a different team as well (this year).
“They’re playing a different way (but) he knows some individual players and a bit about how they play. We’ll take a bit from that.
“He’ll have some mixed emotions there’s no doubt. Deep down I know he’s looking forward to playing against his old club.”
Last year the Demons (3-3) enjoyed a round 20 breakthrough success against Hawthorn (1-5) — their first in nine years.
It seems a lifetime ago, but it’s worth remembering the Hawks entered the match with a 15-3 record and were on course for a fourth successive premiership. But since then the Hawks have won just three of 12 matches, exiting the finals in straight sets and starting this season abysmally.
“It’s probably 10 or 11 games ago in terms of AFL games but it feels like such a long time ago,” Goodwin said. “I’ve only seen them play once live (this season) and it was against the Eagles. They were pretty good that day and we’re preparing for their best.”
BULLDOG TO MAKE RETURN TO FOOTY
It’s been a long road back for Jack Redpath.Source:Getty Images
Western Bulldogs forward Jack Redpath’s return from injury is set to boost the reigning premiers’ depth as they head into a tough AFL stretch. After an agonising two-point loss to Greater Western Sydney in Canberra last week, the seventh-placed Bulldogs will host Richmond at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
They then face West Coast in Perth, Geelong at Skilled Stadium in round 10 and St Kilda at Etihad Stadium in round 11 before heading into the bye. It is unlikely the Bulldogs will face a tougher run of games this season as they look to back up their drought-breaking premiership triumph.
Coach Luke Beveridge has already shown a willingness to swing unforced changes, with premiership duo Caleb Daniel and Shane Biggs among those forced to fight their way back into the best 22.
Beveridge will soon have more options at his disposal with Redpath set to return through the VFL this weekend after undergoing a knee reconstruction. “His approach to his rehab has been outstanding, and it’s a credit to his diligence and hard work that he has got himself ready to return to the field,” Bulldogs physio Chris Bell said.
“We will monitor Jack’s game time with a view to increasing his workload over the next few weeks.”
The 26-year-old ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during the Bulldogs’ round 18 loss to St Kilda last season — the same game in which midfielder Mitch Wallis broke two bones in his leg in a horrific incident.
Wallis has recovered ahead of schedule and was outstanding in his VFL return last week, booting three goals and racking up 34 touches.
He is likely to need at least another game under his belt before making a senior return, as is small forward Tory Dickson (abdominal strain). Ruckman Jordan Roughead (hamstring), key defender Dale Morris (leg) and spearhead Travis Cloke (broken ribs) are all several weeks away from returning. Tom Liberatore (concussion) and Matthew Boyd (back) must pass fitness tests before being cleared to face the Tigers.
— with AAP
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