JESSE Hogan says he can’t wait to see Clayton Oliver have another pre-season under his belt, as he believes the young midfielder will be one to step-up in 2017. 

Oliver played 13 matches in his first AFL season and was arguably Casey’s best in its recent VFL Grand Final loss to Footscray, when he claimed 31 disposals. 

The No.4 pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft, Oliver made an immediate impression in 2016, when he received the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination after round one. 

He spent much of the first half of the season in the side, before he was rested and given some time at Casey. But he showed plenty to like about his game and Hogan could only see further improvement in Oliver’s upcoming second season. 

“Clayton Oliver, with another pre-season under his belt, I reckon he’ll go to another level and get a bit more of a tank,” he told Melbourne TV. 

“I’m really looking forward to seeing him have another pre-season.” 

Hogan said he was excited by next year and the club’s emerging players. He added that the list now had a core group of players ready to take the club to the next level. 

The key forward said coach Paul Roos had been instrumental in setting up the club and now couldn’t wait to play under Simon Goodwin, who has taken over the role for at least the next three seasons. 

“He’s (Roos) definitely left the club better than when he got here. I couldn’t speak highly enough of him,” he said. 

“I’m really looking forward [to playing under] Goody. I’ve got to know him really well and everyone loves him and he has a really smart football brain, so it’s super exciting.

“We’ve shown we’re a good enough to team to beat good sides and we won three games in a row this year, which is something we haven’t done for a while.”