AFL news: Will Melbourne Demons put Clayton Oliver up for trade?

The future of four-time best and fairest winner Clayton Oliver is in the spotlight with rival clubs making inquiries and Demons insiders insisting he will stay at the club.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 15: Clayton Oliver of the Demons is dejected after the Demons were defeated by the Blues during the AFL First Semi Final match between Melbourne Demons and Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 15, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Melbourne is faced with taking the biggest gamble in recent trade period history if it makes the bold call to put superstar onballer Clayton Oliver up for trade.

The four-time best and fairest winner’s future has been thrown into the spotlight amid suggestions clubs were considering making a bombshell play for the brilliant onballer.

The inquiries surround Melbourne’s frustration with Oliver’s preparation and reaction to the multiple setbacks throughout his hamstring injury which sidelined him for 10 games this year.

In particular, rivals have questioned whether there was an incident in Oliver’s exit meeting with Melbourne coaching staff which has fuelled unrest around his future.

But rival clubs who spoke to Melbourne figures on Tuesday were told he was not being put up for trade and that the club would continue to support him off the back of a frustrating season.

Melbourne will already lose James Jordon and Brodie Grundy to Sydney Swans on the back of Luke Jackson’s departure to Fremantle last year.

Onballer James Harmes is also seeking a fresh start elsewhere.

Melbourne should expect backlash from fans if the club trades away Oliver. Picture: Getty Images

The decision on Oliver would have significant ramifications for the club’s premiership prospects with the club determined to bounce back from consecutive straight sets finals exits in 2024.

Melbourne could ask for multiple first-round picks for Oliver, 26, who remains one of the best players in the competition and is contracted to Melbourne on a mega seven-year deal which is worth more than $1.3 million by the end of 2027.

Oliver’s contract includes significant percentage increases linked to the Total Player Payments boost which delivered players a 37 per cent boost over the life of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

At the time of the deal last year Melbourne said the deal reflected his performance and standing as one of the best players in the club’s history, having won four club champion awards and three All-Australian jackets in his first eight seasons.

But rival clubs will continue to ask questions about the situation over the next 48 hours when the Demons official position is expected to become clearer ahead of the trade period opening next week.

In particular, clubs will attempt to gain more understanding of Oliver’s off-field situation and professionalism as well as the communication with Melbourne since season’s end.

Oliver missed 10 games this year with a hamstring injury. Picture: Getty Images

Mystery surrounded Oliver’s foot injury this year which landed him in hospital when a blister became infected.

Melbourne was extremely disappointed with its finals exit after suffering heartbreaking seven and two-point losses in September.

Collingwood made the bold call to trade superstar ruckman Brodie Grundy at the end of last season to clear salary cap room which allowed the club to add more key and depth players on the way to this year’s stunning premiership win.

It followed similarly strong decisions to off-load Adam Treloar and Jaidyn Stephenson at the Magpies.

But there would still be fierce backlash from Melbourne fans about Oliver if the club entertained any thought of trading him away at the peak of its premiership window.

Just thinking about turning Clayton Oliver into a forward pocket next year... pic.twitter.com/H2hoR7YZmc

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) October 3, 2023

Melbourne great Garry Lyon said he was “horrified by the prospect” of an Oliver trade.

He said the club needed to assess whether Oliver’s suggested issues were “insurmountable or resolveable”.

“This is a generational midfield talent right now, who at 26 has done some stuff (on the field) that not many have done,” Lyon said on SEN.

“They’re bloody hard to come by, midfielders that rack up 30 touches every week and get the contested possessions and the clearances numbers you need, consistently.”

Theoretically, the club could use an Oliver trade to enhance its bid to secure the No. 1 pick from West Coast to nab outstanding forward-midfielder Harley Reid in the draft.

St Kilda wants to bolster the power and brilliance of its midfield brigade but is hamstrung by its lack of early picks.

Melbourne already has picks 5, 13 and 24 in this year’s draft.

Oliver’s manager, Nick Gieschen from Connors Sports, would not comment on Tuesday.