Ahead of one of the most anticipated fixtures of the Australian Football League season, Melbourne Demons interim coach Steven King has outlined his game plan for facing former club superstar Clayton Oliver, now plying his trade with the Greater Western Sydney Giants: a unified team approach from his midfield unit, rather than focusing on shutting down the high-flying ex-teammate individually.
This weekend’s encounter marks the first time Melbourne will share the field with Oliver since the high-profile star’s off-season departure at the end of 2025, a split that also saw fellow Demons champion Christian Petracca exit the club. Since making the switch to GWS, Oliver has recaptured the elite form that made him a fan favourite in Melbourne, turning in a standout performance last week that anchored the Giants’ dominant 14-goal third quarter upset over reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions.
While King acknowledged Oliver’s red-hot current form and the respect the current Melbourne squad holds for their former premiership teammate, he stressed that containing Oliver will be a group responsibility rather than a job for any single player. “A lot of our midfield group were premiership teammates with Clarry, and they respect him enormously,” King told reporters ahead of the clash. “He’s playing at an incredibly high level right now, and it’s up to our entire unit to step up and respond as one.”
The call for a collective response comes off the back of a disappointing heavy defeat for the Demons against the Western Bulldogs in their most recent outing. King noted that the need for a turnaround extends far beyond just matching Oliver’s output, with the entire GWS midfield posing a threat that Melbourne must answer as a group. “We were beaten pretty convincingly last week, so we need to get back on track as a group, not just against Clarry but against their whole midfield unit,” he said. “As a collective, we need to find our rhythm again, and this should be a great contest to watch.”
Despite the high-profile departures of two of the club’s greatest recent players, the Demons have exceeded expectations under King’s leadership this season, climbing rapidly up the AFL ladder. King framed the split as a mutually beneficial outcome for all parties, noting that both Oliver and Petracca have continued to deliver strong performances at their new clubs, while the roster overhaul has created opportunities for young Melbourne players to step into key roles.
“I think whenever you can get a win-win outcome, that’s great for the whole competition,” King said. “I genuinely want Clarry and Christian to go really well in their new homes. It was clear internally that we needed a change, so we don’t waste energy worrying about how they’re going – our focus is on how we perform here. They’re both great players and legends of this club, so it’s no surprise they’re still playing elite footy. For us, the biggest positive has been the opportunity this has given our young guys to step up, and that’s been really satisfying to watch.”
In team selection news, the Demons are set to welcome back key forward Brody Mihocek from a hamstring injury, while versatile midfielder Latrelle Pickett will be available after being managed in the previous round. For defender Jake Lever, who is sidelined with concussion, experienced utility Tom McDonald is lined up as a likely replacement for the GWS clash.