OLIVER BACK AS DEMONS TOLD TO FIRE
MELBOURNE star Clayton Oliver will return from a broken thumb to face the Western Bulldogs on Saturday after just one week on the sidelines.
And Demons coach Simon Goodwin says it is time for the reigning premiers to start playing their best footy.
Star defender Jake Lever will be assessed on Friday after being cleared of structural damage to his shoulder, but Goodwin is hopeful he will also play in the second clash of the year against last year’s grand final opponents.
The clash comes amid what Goodwin has labelled a “brilliant preparation” for Melbourne’s tilt at back-toback flags. Although, the Demons’ final four matches, after this week’s game, are against top-eight teams.
After a “challenging” time through the middle of the season, when the Demons lost three games in a row, they have won three of their past four and Goodwin said the run to the finals would bring out Melbourne’s best football.
“The challenge is right before us as a footy club and we spoke about that last week,” Goodwin said on Wednesday.
“It’s now time for us to start putting our best footy out on the park consistently.
“You look at the teams we are playing in our run to the finals and they are going to be challenging every week.
“It’s just a brilliant preparation for us. It’s the perfect way we want to play our footy against the best teams in the competition.”
Regaining Oliver, who had surgery on a broken thumb he sustained in round 17 against Geelong, only adds to Melbourne’s weaponry and Goodwin said his star onballer would benefit from his short break and the operation.