Clayton Oliver happy to take pay cut to accommodate Geelong trade

A Melbourne star’s name has been thrust back into the trade spotlight with a fresh report detailing his desires to find a new home.

The Clayton Oliver speculation simply refuses to go away with the star midfielder now reportedly willing to take a pay cut to get a trade done.

Melbourne attempted to put a pin in any trades surrounding Oliver, but fresh reports have thrust him back into the spotlight.

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Oliver is keen to have a trade down the highway to Geelong completed and is willing to take a reduction in his salary, The Age reports.

The 27-year-old has six years remaining on his contract which runs until the end of 2030 on an average of $1.3 million.

Despite Melbourne attempting to shut down any trade talks, a source at Oliver’s management and a Geelong source have reportedly spoken about the pay cut being a factor ahead of the AFL’s trade deadline on October 16.

Oliver is reportedly willing to take a pay cut. Picture: David Crosling

Oliver spent the last week back home around Shepparton, which is where former Geelong and Melbourne player Shannon Byrnes is also from.

Byrnes is reportedly playing a key role in the club’s attempts to lure Oliver away. He was a player development manager at Melbourne en-route to the 2021 flag, having a strong relationship with the midfielder, before being brought back to Geelong.

Demons list manager Tim Lamb said earlier this week Oliver would not be traded and interim president Brad Green said Oliver would be part of the team’s Round 1 midfield in 2025 at the club’s best and fairest awards.

The Dees are adamant Oliver will be lining up in round 1 for them. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Demons have come under heavy fire over their handling of the Oliver rumours with several AFL greats taking aim.

Speaking on AFL Trade Radio on Tuesday, Kane Cornes said: “I just don’t believe a word he (Lamb) says” about Oliver never being up for trade.

The Herald Sun’s Scott Gullan said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day: “I don’t reckon this one’s dead. There’s a week, it could go all over the place again.

“This was a fire sale from the start. It was a cultural issue, you draw a line in the sand. ‘It’s a big contract, we want to shake things up, get Melbourne going right. You’re the ones that came to us’.”

With plenty still to play out ahead of the deadline, the Cats will have their hands full as they attempt to lure Oliver along with wantaway Bulldogs star Bailey Smith.

- with foxsports.com.au