Clayton Oliver’s return to Melbourne’s AFL pre-season training after a challenging period has garnered admiration from his teammates. The standout midfielder participated in some of Monday’s training session before the team headed to Seymour for their community camp. Oliver’s comeback, following a hiatus from the club due to personal matters, occurred two weeks ago. Though the timing of his return to play remains uncertain, teammate Alex Neal-Bullen expressed positivity about Oliver’s presence lifting team morale.
“It’s great to see ‘Clayts’ back at the club, engaging in main drills today,” remarked Neal-Bullen, a forward for Melbourne. “He’s showing excellent movement, which is encouraging for Clarrie, the club, and we’re thrilled to have him back. We’re committed to supporting him through this as well.”
On Monday, Melbourne engaged in match simulations in preparation for their upcoming practice session against Richmond at Casey Fields on Sunday morning. Neal-Bullen noted that Melbourne’s premature exit from the finals for the second consecutive year serves as motivation during the pre-season.
“It’s a feeling that stays with you. It’s a driving force for the team, especially after experiencing disappointment in the finals,” he stated. “But I remind myself and the club leaders that despite our dissatisfaction with last year’s outcome, we’re still on a positive trajectory.”
Neal-Bullen expressed confidence in the team’s readiness for Sunday’s practice session against the Tigers, emphasizing their consistent training intensity throughout the pre-season.
“For as long as I’ve been with the club, we’ve prioritized maintaining a high intensity from the beginning of pre-season, ensuring a seamless transition to game intensity,” he explained. “We believe this approach sets us up well to kick off the season strongly this Sunday.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne’s AFLW captain Kate Hore and several teammates also participated in the community camp as they commence their training following a break. The AFLW premiership defending team faced a disappointing end to their season last November with two finals losses.