Clayton Oliver Told to Seek New Club Amid Melbourne Shake-Up
Clayton Oliver’s future with Melbourne has taken a dramatic turn, and it’s the kind of story that has the entire AFL world buzzing. The star midfielder, a four-time best-and-fairest winner and a key part of the Demons’ 2021 premiership, has been told by his club that he is free to explore opportunities elsewhere. This came after a meeting on Thursday morning with new coach Steven King and the Melbourne football department, where it was made clear that he may not fit into their future midfield plans.
Now, what makes this so big is that Oliver is not just any player. Since debuting in 2016, he’s played over 200 games and has been considered one of the league’s elite ball winners. For years, he’s averaged close to 30 disposals a game, and at his peak, he was seen as one of the most unstoppable midfielders in the competition. But in the past two seasons, his numbers dipped, and Melbourne—already reeling from back-to-back disappointing finishes—has decided to take a harder line on their list strategy.
The conversation between Oliver and the club was described as honest but respectful. According to list boss Tim Lamb, the coaches laid out where they see Oliver fitting in and asked him to broaden his game beyond the midfield if he were to stay. Still, the message was clear: if he wanted to pursue a trade, the Demons would not stand in his way. Even though Oliver is still contracted through 2030 on a massive deal worth around $1.3 million per season, Melbourne is willing to consider offers.
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Interestingly, Oliver flew to Sydney on the very same day, sparking immediate speculation about meetings with the Swans or Giants. His management quickly moved to clarify, saying it was a pre-planned trip and not related to the trade news. Regardless, the timing could hardly have been more intriguing.
This isn’t the first time Oliver’s name has come up during trade discussions. Just last year, Geelong made a serious play for him, even willing to take on most of his contract, but the deal didn’t go through. Now, with a new coach, a new CEO, and a clear desire for a cultural reset at Melbourne, Oliver’s future is genuinely up in the air.
It’s also worth noting that he isn’t the only Demon who may be on the move. Christian Petracca has been given the green light to explore his options too, with Adelaide and Gold Coast already holding talks. Add in the likely departures of Judd McVee and Charlie Spargo, and it’s clear the Demons are reshaping their core.
For Oliver, the situation is bittersweet. He was reportedly keen to stay, but he’s also a competitor who wants to play the game at the highest level, and if Melbourne doesn’t see him in that role, then another club surely will. Collingwood has been floated as a “perfect fit,” while Geelong and Sydney remain possible suitors.
What happens next will come down to whether a club is willing to take on his long-term contract and whether Melbourne is prepared to pay part of his salary to make a deal work. Either way, one thing is certain: Clayton Oliver’s name will dominate this trade period, and his next move could reshape not just his career, but the fortunes of whichever team he joins.
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