Melbourne star Clayton Oliver opens up on Trade Period drama

Clayton Oliver has spoken publicly for the first time about his 2024 season, the failed trade to Geelong and what 2025 looks like as the Dees attempt to rise back up the ladder.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 02: A dejected Clayton Oliver of the Demons is seen the round 21 AFL match between Footscray Football Club and Melbourne Demons at Marvel Stadium, on August 02, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Clayton Oliver plans to make up for what he called “a stinker” of a season, insisting he is determined to help drive Melbourne back to the finals again in 2025.

The Demons midfielder met with Geelong ahead of the trade period about a potential move down the highway, but Melbourne would not budge on its decision to retain the 27-year-old who has six years remaining on his lucrative contract.

Oliver told the Herald Sun on Saturday that while he was within his rights to speak with the Cats, he was now focused on trying to get his body right after an injury-plagued 2024 season.

“We’re good, we’re all sweet,” Oliver said of his relationship with Melbourne.

“We’ve got ‘Trac’ (Christian Petracca) coming back, (he’s) the best player in the league … he had a pretty big injury. He is training hard.

“We were there (in a premiership winning team in 2021) a couple of years ago and we fell short in 2022 and 2023.

“(This year) ‘Gussy’ (Angus Brayshaw) retired, we had ‘Trac’ injured, I had a stinker of a year and ‘Maysey’ (Steven May) was a little bit off.”

Asked about his meeting with Geelong in the lead-up to the trade period, Oliver said: “It’s all right … (I just had) a chat with people.”

Clayton Oliver at the Caulfield Cup. Picture: Michael Klein

Oliver endured a frustrating year. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Melbourne are looking good. We will have a big year (in 2025).

“I’m keen to get back (to training).”

Oliver was in the Caulfield winning owners’ room on Saturday afternoon, having watched one of his friends, Darcy Mangan from Ace Bloodstock, salute with talented mate Niance in the listed Alinghi Stakes.

The keen racegoer knocked back a chance to be in Niance, but has several other horses in work at the moment, including Extratwo, who may run at The Valley on Cox Plate day.

He said he had been in recent communication with Petracca, who has been overseas at a Red Bull training camp in an effort to return to the game fit and well after his sickening lacerated spleen and internal injuries suffered on King’s Birthday.

Clayton Oliver celebrates a win with mates on Caulfield Cup day Picture: Jason Edwards

Oliver said he was eager to respond next season after struggling to make an impact for the first time in his AFL career this season, due to a range of injury and fitness concerns.

He played 21 games in 2024, but was hampered by a hand issue that required surgery, as well as knee soreness.

He plans to return early for preseason training on November 11, when the club’s younger players are scheduled to come back into work.

When quizzed about his injuries, he said: “I’m all right now. (I) got my hand fixed up, I got (a) metal plate taken out. My knee is all good. I had a couple of broken ribs. I’m all fixed up.”