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Melbourne ball magnet Clayton Oliver has been named the 2017 Shadforth Financial Group AFL Coaches Association 'Best Young Player'.
Oliver had an outstanding campaign, averaging 30.0 disposals, 15.6 contested possessions, 6.9 tackles, 6.6 clearances and 5.5 score involvements per game. He ranked fifth in the AFL for total disposals and total clearances.
The former Murray Bushranger amassed 24 or more disposals in every game this season, including 30 or more in 12 outings.
The 20-year-old – who was controversially overlooked for this year's All Australian squad – was selected with the fourth pick in the 2015 national draft and has developed into a vital cog in the Demons’ engine room.
Oliver received 72 votes from the coaches, 34 votes ahead of the second-placed Sam Menegola from Geelong (38 votes). Fellow Demon Christian Petracca finished third (29 votes), Bomber Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti finished fourth (19 votes) and Bulldog Marcus Adams finished fifth (16 votes).
The Shadforth Financial Group Best Young Player of the Year Award is presented in recognition of the player who, based on his performance in his first two seasons of AFL Football, deserves to be acknowledged as the Best Young Player.
The winner of the Shadforth Financial Group Best Young Player of the Year Award is determined by the weekly votes of the AFL coaches, with previous winners including Scott Pendlebury, Joel Selwood and Brownlow medalists Chris Judd and Nathan Fyfe.
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