
GWS star Clayton Oliver won't waste time dwelling on the past, insisting a "reunion'' with Melbourne will be like any other game.
In career-best form and enjoying his football again, Oliver will face the Demons in Alice Springs on Sunday for the first time since being pushed out under new Melbourne coach Steven King.
The 2021 premiership Demon, who was contracted until 2030, left after being told he did not fit into the club's midfield plans.
He was eventually lured to the harbour city by former Melbourne teammates Toby Bedford and Jesse Hogan.
And like Bedford and Hogan, the 29-year-old has rediscovered the form that made him a three-time All-Australian midfielder and four-time club best-and-fairest.
Across his first 11 games for the Giants and in injured midfield bull Tom Green's absence, Oliver has boasted an "elite" average of 31.7 disposals and 8.5 clearances.
Oliver was instrumental in their 78-point demolition job over reigning premiers Brisbane, the club pulling off an extraordinary 14-goal third-quarter blitz.
Besides a coffee catch-up with Demons skipper Max Gawn on Saturday, Oliver insists he hasn't paid Sunday's game at Traeger Park much thought.
The 12th-placed Giants (5-6) will be looking for back-to-back wins for the first time this season ahead of their round-13 bye.
"I'm just going to treat it like another game, to be honest," Oliver said.
"I'm in a new chapter in my career now and loving it up here at the Giants.
"Toby Bedford's also been amazing for me. He's my housemate and best mate and probably the only reason I came up here.
"I wasn't too sure about it, and even when I'd signed I was a little bit unsure, but it was really reassuring to have him there.
"Being up in Sydney, away from Melbourne, it's been really refreshing. I love every bit of it.
"It's the 'Bedford, Hogan and Oliver Cup', there are three of us here. It'll be a great game, and I'm just looking forward to it."
But his decade-long stint at the Demons still weighs on his mind, with Oliver making a few Freudian slips.
Asked about making the trek back to Alice Springs for his reunion, Oliver said: "I actually like Alice. The Dees, we go out there once a year.
"We used to play right up there - sorry, the Dees used to play right up there.
"I think we lost the last two out there. It'll be good to get back up there."
Oliver wasn't the only club champion to leave the Demons last year, with Norm Smith Medal winner Christian Petracca moving to Gold Coast.
Melbourne coach King said he wasn't surprised the pair returned to some of their best form at new clubs.
Sitting sixth (7-4) after a three-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne will also pay tribute to club legend Neale Daniher, who died on Monday.
"I wish nothing more than for 'Clarry' (Oliver), for Christian to go really well," King said.
"It was quite obvious internally here we needed change as well, so you need to just not worry about the consequences of how other people go.
"They're both great players and greats of our footy club, so there's no surprise they're playing a really high level of footy."
Melbourne should regain forward Brody Mihocek (hamstring) and Latrelle Pickett (managed), while veteran Tom McDonald is a potential replacement for Jake Lever (concussion).
GWS are hoping to recall All-Australian defender Sam Taylor (hamstring) for the first time this year, while fellow backmen Lachie Whitfield (hamstring) and Leek Aleer (ankle) are tests.
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