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Live sport on SN this weekend“It was heartwarming”: What jumped out to Buckley about Melbourne’s pre-season loss
Lachlan Geleit • March 4th, 2025 8:53 am
Nathan Buckley loved seeing Clayton Oliver show signs of his best footy in Melbourne’s AAMI Community Series clash against Fremantle.
While the Demons went down by 19 points to the Dockers, Oliver was everywhere for his side with three goals, 28 disposals and 11 clearances.
The vintage performance reminded Buckley of Oliver’s best footy which came in 2021 and 2022 and the former Collingwood coach hopes it’s a sign that the 27-year-old has overcome the on and off-field issues he’s faced in the last two campaigns.
“The thing that jumped out of the TV with me was Clayton Oliver. How good was it to see him running around like that?” Buckley said onSEN Whateley.
“This is a guy whose own team moved him to half-back to try and get him some easy ball, to try and keep him engaged and to try and work through the challenges on and off the field that he was going through.
“I think he is an example of what is possible at Melbourne and what may have occurred under the surface that may pop in the next six to eight weeks and then beyond.
“We saw a very talented player come back and show that he is up for the fight.
“His work rate from contest to contest and his ball hunting was as good as you’ll ever see it. It was heartwarming to see that.”
In the last 12 months, Oliver has struggled with injury and even explored a trade to Geelong amid well-documented personal challenges.
Those troubles no doubt came with some tough love from those in charge of the Demons and Buckley thinks that Sunday’s performance was the first sign that Oliver has truly begun to work through his battles.
“That's not to say that the situation that he's found himself in wasn't his own doing and that there wasn't friction between the club and he and his teammates,” Buckley said.
“There quite obviously has been some tough love, and we don't know the half of it, but that's why it should stay in the club's four walls for them to sort out and for them to work through.
“I think that he has quite clearly done that (worked through his issues), and I was so heartened to see that and looking forward to seeing what type of player you're going to get back.
“Before the last 18 months, he was a top-five player in the competition. It was great to see Petracca run around, but Clayton Oliver was the one for me because he was absolutely at the ball and willing and ready to go.”
Oliver and the Demons now gear up for a Round 1 clash against GWS at the MCG on Sunday, March 16.
