Let’s talk about Ollie

[mcs]

I think he is currently in the 19-24 group of players. He promises so much but just has a few too many unreliable traits that stand out in games.

If it weren’t for injuries to Blakey and JPK, I would think that Ollie may have been omitted for next week. For the players that do or can line up on a wing, he is behind J Mac, Dawson, Heeney, and Warner. Campbell has the potential to play his current role very soon too.

While I agree he may soon be under pressure with a medium to longer term perspective, I very much doubt he is that close to being omitted at all - he is comfortably in the first 22 at the moment for mine, even though I agree with comments about his consistency per say.

[Nico]

They say every player is coachable, so why hasn't his incessant faults of trying to run through a pack of opposition players and not taking the first option been coached out of him. He gets a lot of footy but undoes his good play with the same mistakes weekly.

On reflection maybe we just have to accept that this is how he plays. He does get on his own a lot and presents when the ball is coming out of defence. His strong point is his big tank and ability to move all over the ground.

I can't see him losing his spot anytime soon.

[TheBloods]

He is average , would trade him but for now hes best 22

[i'm-uninformed2]

Who would have thought in Round 1 of the Will & Ollie show that in Round 22 it would Ollie who gets his very own scrutiny thread?

For reasons that are never quite clear, these things seems to happen in the life of a footballer, even ones that go on to have distinguished careers?

It's like the act of an illusionist, a magician. Now you see it. Now you don't. Ollie is an illusionist. He shows you what he's got, and then he makes it disappear before your very eyes.

Maybe Ollie will be kind in the not too distant future and show us how his does his trickery. Then he won't need to perform his act anymore, and we can dispatch his thread to the archives.

Very good. I get that not all careers develop in a linear way. I think some of my frustration with him is at the back half of his third year at the club, he really showed rapid improvement. Maybe at that point he had the capacity to play, say, to the level Nic Fosdike reached during his peak years.

I hope he gives us reason to shut down this thread by putting in a couple of barn burner finals, like Fossie did in the two grand finals he played in.

[i'm-uninformed2]

On reflection maybe we just have to accept that this is how he plays. He does get on his own a lot and presents when the ball is coming out of defence. His strong point is his big tank and ability to move all over the ground.

I can't see him losing his spot anytime soon.

I actually hope you’re first post is correct, because with his assets, that gives us a very good player, and it’s what I still want him to become.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I went back and found this thread I started a couple of years back - mainly to say I’m thrilled for Ollie.

He’s become what we all hoped for and knew he had the potential to be. He’s playing beautifully down back, I love his dancing feet in traffic, he’s cool and composed with ball in hand and having what I’d singled out for attention - impact. And after those two set shots last night, maybe he can take his great mate Hayward aside and have a chat about settling and holding your nerve on set shots.

If I had to guess, he’d probably be third in our B&F right now, behind only Gulden and Parker. It’s great to see.

[Industrial Fan]

I think he’s been a rare good pickup in our early drafts. Was a high impact player in his early years but the knock on him was that he wasn’t getting the footy enough.

20+ touches every week from him should be the goal and we’ll win most times that happens.

Also, I’m pretty sure Blakeys going to be up ahead of Oli in the B&F but there’s no shame in that

[i'm-uninformed2]

I think he’s been a rare good pickup in our early drafts. Was a high impact player in his early years but the knock on him was that he wasn’t getting the footy enough.

20+ touches every week from him should be the goal and we’ll win most times that happens.

Also, I’m pretty sure Blakeys going to be up ahead of Oli in the B&F but there’s no shame in that

Oh yes, Blakey will be top five. He's had some quieter games, but my admiration grew for Blakey even further when he was one of the few to hold his standards during our poor stretch leading into the bye and we were down on KPDs. I rank his game against Richmond in round five as good an individual game as any Swan has played this year. But he and Ollie form quite a combo down back down. Which also shows why we should give young players time to grow and find their slot.

[giant]

I went back and found this thread I started a couple of years back - mainly to say I’m thrilled for Ollie.

He’s become what we all hoped for and knew he had the potential to be. He’s playing beautifully down back, I love his dancing feet in traffic, he’s cool and composed with ball in hand and having what I’d singled out for attention - impact. And after those two set shots last night, maybe he can take his great mate Hayward aside and have a chat about settling and holding your nerve on set shots.

If I had to guess, he’d probably be third in our B&F right now, behind only Gulden and Parker. It’s great to see.

Ah, I did wonder...yes agree, his has been a good news story in the way he's adapted to defence. That said, (a) I really don't want to see him taking the kick out again and (b) I wonder whether it isn't time to give him a crack in the centre square - he has polish and touch that few of our midfielders boast of, such that he could become our "poor man's Pendlebury".

[Dow]

Ah, I did wonder...yes agree, his has been a good news story in the way he's adapted to defence. That said, (a) I really don't want to see him taking the kick out again and (b) I wonder whether it isn't time to give him a crack in the centre square - he has polish and touch that few of our midfielders boast of, such that he could become our "poor man's Pendlebury".

Love Ollie where he is, he just can’t win enough ball as a midfielder

[imuninformedtwo]

Well, having started this thread under the profile I had before my ID was lost in the great crash of 2024 and I had to start a new one, it still leaves me a little sad to say Ollie go but the point remains. There were times to fall in love with Ollie, but he never quite nailed consistency. I’ll miss his best but it’s probably fair to see him go. Good luck to him (just not against us).

[Dow]

Nothing against Ollie but we need to free up a few spaces on the list and allow others to improve our best 23, thank you and good luck

[giant]

Well, having started this thread under the profile I had before my ID was lost in the great crash of 2024 and I had to start a new one, it still leaves me a little sad to say Ollie go but the point remains. There were times to fall in love with Ollie, but he never quite nailed consistency. I’ll miss his best but it’s probably fair to see him go. Good luck to him (just not against us).

I still seem to have my pre-lapsarian ID, though I note I only rate 2 stars. I'll take that on board as feedback.

The original post was pretty spot on - as a mid, he showed poise and a wonderful step, but never got enough of it; as a forward, some lovely skills, but not enough impact; as a defender, some dash and quality foot skills, but too many defensive lapses. When he seemed to lose his confidence with his kicking this year, that seemed to be his papers stamped.

Super kid that you wish the world for - still might turn in to that "poor man's Pendles" if the Blues are willing to take a chance.