AFL 2024 round one LIVE updates: Standing ovation for ‘emotional’ Oliver after tumultuous pre-season

THREE POINTS MELBOURNE OUTCLASS BULLDOGS

“Clarry” off to a hot start

Anyone fading Melbourne’s premiership hopes based on queries about closely scrutinised star Clayton Oliver might be second-guessing themselves.

The triple All-Australian and four-time Demons best-and-fairest winner spent time away from the club during the summer to focus on his mental health after a turbulent period.

There was uncertainty about whether Melbourne would pick Oliver for round zero after he spent time at the lower level regaining match fitness in the pre-season matches.

They not only selected the brilliant midfielder but he responded with an equal team-high 30 disposals and six clearances against Sydney, and backed that up with another prolific performance on Sunday.

Oliver was outstanding in the 45-point win over the Dogs, gathering 35 disposals and six clearances, and helping turn the match in the Demons’ favour after his side’s slow start.

Ex-Saint Jack Billings warrants a mention, too, after compiling 23 touches, 15 marks, 10 score involvements and kicking a goal.

Selection dilemmas galore

Melbourne experimented at both ends for much of last season, trying to find their ideal fit, and it seems like they will be in a similar situation again in 2024.

Veterans Tom McDonald and Ben Brown were among five inclusions as replacements for Adam Tomlinson and Josh Schache. McDonald was back in defence – his best path to senior football after falling behind other forward options – and spent time on all of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton and Rory Lobb.

Brown kicked two goals without being a significant factor, while Jacob van Rooyen spelled skipper Max Gawn in the ruck.

Medium-sized intercept defender Marty Hore also earned a call-up in his second stint in red and blue.

Swingman Harry Petty (toe) made it through unscathed in a three-quarter hit-out in a VFL practice match on Saturday and is likely to return as a forward once he is ready.

It will be interesting to see where recruit Shane McAdam sits once he is fit, with Kade Chandler (three goals) doing his best to cement his spot.

Daniel made to wait

Coach Luke Beveridge raised eyebrows – not for the first time – by naming All-Australian Caleb Daniel as the substitute, on top of leaving Sam Darcy out.

Rory Lobb was preferred to the promising 20-year-old son of club great Luke as the complementary piece in attack, alongside figureheads Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

However, it was the Daniel call that was most surprising.

Daniel eventually came on just before time-on in the third quarter, subbed in for top-five draftee Ryley Sanders after the debutant’s fourth turnover cost his team a goal.
Jack Macrae (hamstring) played in a VFL practice game instead of coming straight into the AFL side, but should return next week.

Defenders Buku Khamis and Liam Jones were among the few bright spots, but Beveridge started Lobb in the ruck in the second half after Tim English struggled against Gawn.

Newcomer Lachie Bramble showed plenty in his club debut, but ex-Demon James Harmes had minimal impact against his old side.

Clayton Oliver said it was “a little bit emotional” when the Melbourne faithful gave him a standing ovation as he ran to the bench in the dying minutes of the final quarter.

Adding it gave him “chills down my spine”.

“It’s been a tough couple of months but I’ve had Gawny to help me out and all the boys,” Oliver told Fox Footy post win.

Of his performance (35 possessions, seven score involvements) earning the trust back of his teammates, he said a frank “definitely not”.

“I still have a lot of work to do. Little steps along the way but this is one of them, so yeah, to be a better teammate, better person, so keep striving everyday.”

For Melbourne skipper Max Gawn, he added:“He’s still playing that selfless role and that’s the player we got and I’m excited for the best version of Clayton this year”.

THREE POINTS MELBOURNE OUTCLASS BULLDOGS

“Clarry” off to a hot start

Anyone fading Melbourne’s premiership hopes based on queries about closely scrutinised star Clayton Oliver might be second-guessing themselves.

The triple All-Australian and four-time Demons best-and-fairest winner spent time away from the club during the summer to focus on his mental health after a turbulent period.

There was uncertainty about whether Melbourne would pick Oliver for round zero after he spent time at the lower level regaining match fitness in the pre-season matches.

They not only selected the brilliant midfielder but he responded with an equal team-high 30 disposals and six clearances against Sydney, and backed that up with another prolific performance on Sunday.

Oliver was outstanding in the 45-point win over the Dogs, gathering 35 disposals and six clearances, and helping turn the match in the Demons’ favour after his side’s slow start.

Ex-Saint Jack Billings warrants a mention, too, after compiling 23 touches, 15 marks, 10 score involvements and kicking a goal.

Selection dilemmas galore

Melbourne experimented at both ends for much of last season, trying to find their ideal fit, and it seems like they will be in a similar situation again in 2024.

Veterans Tom McDonald and Ben Brown were among five inclusions as replacements for Adam Tomlinson and Josh Schache. McDonald was back in defence – his best path to senior football after falling behind other forward options – and spent time on all of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton and Rory Lobb.

Brown kicked two goals without being a significant factor, while Jacob van Rooyen spelled skipper Max Gawn in the ruck.

Medium-sized intercept defender Marty Hore also earned a call-up in his second stint in red and blue.

Swingman Harry Petty (toe) made it through unscathed in a three-quarter hit-out in a VFL practice match on Saturday and is likely to return as a forward once he is ready.

It will be interesting to see where recruit Shane McAdam sits once he is fit, with Kade Chandler (three goals) doing his best to cement his spot.

Daniel made to wait

Coach Luke Beveridge raised eyebrows – not for the first time – by naming All-Australian Caleb Daniel as the substitute, on top of leaving Sam Darcy out.

Rory Lobb was preferred to the promising 20-year-old son of club great Luke as the complementary piece in attack, alongside figureheads Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

However, it was the Daniel call that was most surprising.

Daniel eventually came on just before time-on in the third quarter, subbed in for top-five draftee Ryley Sanders after the debutant’s fourth turnover cost his team a goal.
Jack Macrae (hamstring) played in a VFL practice game instead of coming straight into the AFL side, but should return next week.

Defenders Buku Khamis and Liam Jones were among the few bright spots, but Beveridge started Lobb in the ruck in the second half after Tim English struggled against Gawn.

Newcomer Lachie Bramble showed plenty in his club debut, but ex-Demon James Harmes had minimal impact against his old side.

The Demons have done it, bounced back after their disappointing loss last week to Sydney to outclass the Western Bulldogs today – and they did it comfortably in the end, claiming a 45-point win.

Melbourne enjoyed a slew of junk time goals to close out the day and give their percentage a healthy boost.

Max Gawn lead the way, while the midfield mix, including Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, were a formidable force.

Clayton Oliver has been fantastic today – 35 possessions, six clearances and seven inside 50s. He had a chance to add a goal to those stats, but unselfishly passed it off to Jacob van Rooyen.

Van Rooyen made the most of the opportunity and kicked his third goal of the day to make the Demons win a sure thing.

A slew of Melbourne players hugged Oliver, who then ran straight to the bench to a warm and loud applause from the crowd.

Melbourne lead by 37-points with just over two minutes on the clock.

It’s looking signed and sealed for the Demons now after Kysaiah Pickett kicked another, his second for the game.

Melbourne have a game-high 30-point margin and there’s not much time left.

Can the Bulldogs find five goals in seven minutes? Not impossible, but very unlikely.

Not win it, they’d need six goals and at least a point, too.

Jacob van Rooyen has kicked another for the Demons and made things hard for the Dogs now.

The Demons have a 24-point lead with less than 10 minutes left in the game.

18-year-old Caleb Windsor has been subbed off the Demons, with Taj Woewodin activated in his place.

Melbourne lead by 24.

Just when Melbourne broke out the two/three-goal margin they’ve stayed around for the majority of the game, thanks to a goal from Christian Petracca, the Dogs responded quickly to bring it back down.

And it was Lachlan Bramble, in his first game in Dogs colours after coming from Hawthorn, who kicked a crafty goal to inject some hope into the Bulldogs fanbase of a late comeback.

Melbourne lead by 17.

Melbourne midfield star Christian Petracca caught a handball on the run and unloaded a thumping kick to extend his side’s lead to 23-points.

It’s the biggest margin they’ve enjoyed this game and sets the Demons up for a good run home. There’s still 13 minutes left on the clock, so plenty of time for the Dogs to make a spirited comeback, but they can’t seem to get any momentum in their game today.

Melbourne lead by 23 points.

Melbourne entered the final term with a deserved 19-point buffer over the Bulldogs, but the margin seems wider in general play.

That gives the Dogs hope if they can get on a roll here, but they butchered the ball in the third quarter and just don’t seem poised to make a run.

Luke Beveridge subbed off gun draftee Ryley Sanders after a bad turnover, with Caleb Daniel finally entering the fray. Daniel as the sub was a strange choice as it was.

Bayley Fritsch got going after a very quiet start to the day but failed to make his shots count. Clayton Oliver continues to dominate this contest, with 33 touches – seven more than anyone else – and six clearances.

Tom Liberatore has a match-most eight clearances for the Dogs, plus 26 disposals.

Melbourne take a 19-point lead into the final change after the Dogs were unable to chip the margin away in the third quarter.

There’s been a few chances that have gone begging for both sides.

While Kade Chandler has kicked three goals, and Ben Brown and Alex Neale-Bullen two each, Bayley Fritsch hasn’t been able to make himself known on the scoreboard with the two behinds.

For the Dogs, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been their best goalkicker with two goals, but he’s been the only one with more than one goal. Tim English also has the two behinds (while also 20 touches, 15 hit-outs).

It’s a hot day over at the MCG, a toasty 30 degrees.