- Nov 23, 2015
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Welcome to the Giants ...
Height: 181cm
D.O.B: 15-06-2006
Leagues: AFL U18 Championships, Coates Talent League Boys
SNAPSHOT: “One of the most well regarded ball users in the draft, boasting a wand-like left foot and the ticker to take gutsy overhead marks.” – Michael Alvaro
Harrison Oliver put his name in lights on the representative stage this year. The highly touted defender broke through for a massive performance in his Vic Metro Under 18 debut, amassing 25 disposals, six marks, and five rebound 50s against the Allies. He defied the wet conditions on that day, and was not forgotten thereafter, for a high-class outing.
While he had his big moment in the 2024 National Championships, Oliver has been a staple of representative sides throughout his junior career. He was selected in the Under 12 and 15 School Sport Victoria (SSV) squads, before turning out for Vic Metro in the 2022 Under 16 championships and making his debut for Sandringham in the same year. A place in Metro’s Under 18 squad was almost inevitable.
Oliver has proven to be a serial winner across his top-age campaign. He played alongside a host of Sandringham teammates as Brighton Grammar took out the APS title, and went on to help the Dragons win a third consecutive Coates Talent League flag. In terms of individual honours, he was named in the Talent League Team of the Year and earned All Australian selection.
The 181cm prospect is equal parts courageous and classy. He is a Melbourne supporter, but looks to emulate fellow left-footer Luke Hodge with his intercept marking, run, and leadership across half-back. 2023 Sandringham graduate and current Bomber Archie Roberts is another player Oliver draws inspiration from in terms of his role.
STRENGTHS:
IMPROVEMENTS:
Oliver's bread and butter is distributing the ball by foot. He's one of, if not the best left-foot kick in the draft and consistently opens up the game with incisive passes. His vision and decision making are excellent, helping him identify and execute options across both short and long ranges. His average 16.3 disposals at the National Championships hit at an 83 per cent efficiency rate, with Oliver ably piercing the opposition's defensive zones, or clearing them.
Another trait which has served Oliver well across the journey is his intercepting. Opposition forwards would detest playing on him, such was his intercept prowess, and that has carried all the way through to his top-age season. Oliver reads the play well to mop up at ground level and competes bravely in the air. He is capable of reeling in marks at full stretch or going back with the flight, essentially playing above his height in that regard.
It's that kind of competitiveness and constant motion, along with his playmaking, that has seen Oliver labelled the "heartbeat" of Sandringham's side by coach Rob Harding. His work rate is phenomenal and not only will he put his body on the line defensively, but he also contributes repeat efforts on the attack. He's the type of player who can control the ball in slow play or spark quick transitions with his overlap running.
While often reliable and quite consistent from week-to-week, Oliver can look to chance his four-quarter output. He will sometimes have a standout quarter or two, but is the kind of player coaches will want to repeatedly be fed the ball to dictate play throughout the game. It shows in his disposal numbers, where barring school footy, his highest haul was 25 at the National Championships. His best was 19 in the Coates Talent League, twice.
Oliver also hinted at improving his ground balls during preseason. At 181cm, he will be hard pressed to be as impactful in the air at the next level, and with his secondary position being in midfield, you can never be too good at the fundamentals. Oliver showed growth in that area in his breakout game against the Allies, proving polished in the wet conditions by both hand and foot.
Harrison Oliver
Victorian Metro / Sandringham DragonsHeight: 181cm
D.O.B: 15-06-2006
Leagues: AFL U18 Championships, Coates Talent League Boys
SNAPSHOT: “One of the most well regarded ball users in the draft, boasting a wand-like left foot and the ticker to take gutsy overhead marks.” – Michael Alvaro
Harrison Oliver put his name in lights on the representative stage this year. The highly touted defender broke through for a massive performance in his Vic Metro Under 18 debut, amassing 25 disposals, six marks, and five rebound 50s against the Allies. He defied the wet conditions on that day, and was not forgotten thereafter, for a high-class outing.
While he had his big moment in the 2024 National Championships, Oliver has been a staple of representative sides throughout his junior career. He was selected in the Under 12 and 15 School Sport Victoria (SSV) squads, before turning out for Vic Metro in the 2022 Under 16 championships and making his debut for Sandringham in the same year. A place in Metro’s Under 18 squad was almost inevitable.
Oliver has proven to be a serial winner across his top-age campaign. He played alongside a host of Sandringham teammates as Brighton Grammar took out the APS title, and went on to help the Dragons win a third consecutive Coates Talent League flag. In terms of individual honours, he was named in the Talent League Team of the Year and earned All Australian selection.
The 181cm prospect is equal parts courageous and classy. He is a Melbourne supporter, but looks to emulate fellow left-footer Luke Hodge with his intercept marking, run, and leadership across half-back. 2023 Sandringham graduate and current Bomber Archie Roberts is another player Oliver draws inspiration from in terms of his role.
STRENGTHS:
- Intercepting
- Kicking
- Reading the play
- Toughness
- Vision
- Work rate
IMPROVEMENTS:
- Accumulation
- Four-quarter consistency
Oliver's bread and butter is distributing the ball by foot. He's one of, if not the best left-foot kick in the draft and consistently opens up the game with incisive passes. His vision and decision making are excellent, helping him identify and execute options across both short and long ranges. His average 16.3 disposals at the National Championships hit at an 83 per cent efficiency rate, with Oliver ably piercing the opposition's defensive zones, or clearing them.
Another trait which has served Oliver well across the journey is his intercepting. Opposition forwards would detest playing on him, such was his intercept prowess, and that has carried all the way through to his top-age season. Oliver reads the play well to mop up at ground level and competes bravely in the air. He is capable of reeling in marks at full stretch or going back with the flight, essentially playing above his height in that regard.
It's that kind of competitiveness and constant motion, along with his playmaking, that has seen Oliver labelled the "heartbeat" of Sandringham's side by coach Rob Harding. His work rate is phenomenal and not only will he put his body on the line defensively, but he also contributes repeat efforts on the attack. He's the type of player who can control the ball in slow play or spark quick transitions with his overlap running.
While often reliable and quite consistent from week-to-week, Oliver can look to chance his four-quarter output. He will sometimes have a standout quarter or two, but is the kind of player coaches will want to repeatedly be fed the ball to dictate play throughout the game. It shows in his disposal numbers, where barring school footy, his highest haul was 25 at the National Championships. His best was 19 in the Coates Talent League, twice.
Oliver also hinted at improving his ground balls during preseason. At 181cm, he will be hard pressed to be as impactful in the air at the next level, and with his secondary position being in midfield, you can never be too good at the fundamentals. Oliver showed growth in that area in his breakout game against the Allies, proving polished in the wet conditions by both hand and foot.
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