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Clayton Oliver's manager has lauded his role in Melbourne's flying start to the season, saying he is "super proud" of how the Demons midfielder has rebounded from a tumultuous off-season.
Oliver was in the headlines throughout the summer after nearing an exit during the trade period, before he was hospitalised late last year.
The controversy surrounding the 26-year-old came as Melbourne grappled with questions surrounding its culture after swingman Joel Smith was suspended for testing positive to cocaine in October.
A controversy-filled off-season following on from two consecutive straight-sets finals exits would have doomed many clubs across the AFL, but Melbourne has so far thrived in the chaos.
After being handily beaten by Sydney in its season-opener, the Demons have reeled off four straight victories, including back-to-back road wins over Adelaide and Port Adelaide, and they currently sit second on the ladder.
Oliver's strong start to the year has been one of the driving forces behind Melbourne's early-season success.
Despite a largely interrupted pre-season, Oliver has played in all five of Melbourne's games so far this season.
"Things were pretty tough towards the back end of last year," his manager Nick Gieschen told SEN.
"Just to be honest, I'm just super proud of just where he is now.
"I was at the Bulldogs vs Melbourne game in Round 1. He obviously played well that day and I actually felt quite emotional just to see the support that everyone has given him and the support that he's been shown.
"He's in a really good space at the moment and clearly he's doing a heap of work to do what he needs to do to get himself right.
"But he's a ripping bloke. Everyone has challenges and struggles from time to time, but he's obviously doing what he can to get through that."
Gieschen, whose stable includes the likes of young guns Harley Reid and Harry Sheezel, admitted Oliver's tumultuous summer was arguably the toughest challenge he had faced in his time as a player manager.
Oliver's season averages of 25.8 disposals and 5.8 clearances per contest pale in comparison to some of his bigger seasons, but his return appears to have provided his team with a boost that simply cannot be measured by any available metric.
"The one thing I've taken out of the past three or four weeks when I watch him and on the TV is just how much he's enjoying his footy," Gieschen said.
"You see him celebrating goals and obviously in the rooms after the game singing the song … he just loves playing footy and being around the guys.
"I'm just really pumped to see him doing well and obviously he's so grateful for the work that the club has put in.
"It hasn't always been easy — there were some really tough chats — but I'm just really proud of him."
Oliver's counting stats may be below his gaudy career highs, but he has still found a way to be impactful within Simon Goodwin's system.
His 15.2 kicks and 5.2 inside 50s per game are ranked elite, while he still ranks above average in a number of other key metrics such as contested possessions, clearances and metres gained.
Melbourne's early-season success has been centred around ruthless efficiency in its forward 50.
The Demons' 12.8 goals per game through five outings this season is virtually identical to its mark in its premiership year (12.9) in 2021. However, Goodwin's side is managing to maintain its scoring level from three years ago despite averaging significantly fewer inside 50 entries per game (50.4 in 2024 compared to 56.2 in 2021).
Goodwin's men led the league in tackles per game (62.2) en route to winning the flag in 2021, and once again rank in the top five in tackles.
Teams have to do their work early against Melbourne, defending well up the ground, because once the Demons get the ball in their 50, their opposition is usually toast.
The likes of Bayley Fritsch (14 goals), Ben Brown (five goals) and Jacob van Rooyen (seven goals) can each act as focal points when required, but it is at ground level where the Demons can be devastating inside 50.
Unsung heroes such as Alex Neal-Bullen and Kade Chandler are two of the top-four tacklers at Melbourne so far this season, with Kysaiah Pickett also ranking in the top 10. The trio often plays a key role in locking the ball inside Melbourne's attacking 50.
After being guilty of relying on its superstars to do all the heavy lifting in years gone by, Melbourne is now getting steady contributions across the board.
Premiership windows in the AFL are fleeting as history has proven time and time again.
Melbourne came into the season with the third-oldest list in terms of average age (25.1) and the second-most-experienced list in terms of average games played (84.9). Inspirational skipper Max Gawn will turn 33 this year, star defender Steven May is 32, and the team's best player Christian Petracca is edging towards 30.
Simply put, the Demons' time is now.
It has been a frustrating few seasons since Melbourne claimed its drought-breaking 2021 premiership. With Oliver's resurgence playing a pivotal role, 2024 might just be the year the Demons strike gold once again.
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