Clayton Oliver meets AFL club on boat, young gun spotted with rival coach

An AFL star has been spotted meeting with a rival club’s coach and players on a boat after being told he’s no longer wanted.

Clayton Oliver has met with the coach and players from a Sydney based AFL club just a day after being told by Melbourne to explore his options.

The 28-year-old was effectively given his marching orders from the Demons following a heated 12-minute meeting with new coach Steven King on Thursday.

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Oliver was informed by the club to explore his options elsewhere and that if he was to stay, it would likely see him play in the VFL.

The bombshell news comes despite Oliver having five years left on his contract that will pay him $1.3 million per year.

In order to help facilitate a potential trade, the Demons are willing to pay half of his contract per year until it expires in 2030.

On Friday, Oliver was spotted on a boat in Sydney Harbour chatting with GWS coach Adam Kingsley and Giants players Finn Callaghan and Lachie Ash.

They looked in good spirits and could be seen eating food from Subway.

Clayton Oliver on a boat on Sydney Harbour with GWS Giants coach Adam Kingsley and players. Photo: Phil Hillyard.

“The Giants are all-in on Clayton Oliver as it stands right now,” Tom Morris said on AFL Trade Radio.

“They want another player to help their clearance game. They believe at $600,000 to $700,000 a year, it’s a bargain.

“They have a history of helping players who for whatever reason have lost their way a little bit.”

Oliver would boost the Giants’ midfield depth alongside young players Tom Green and Finn Callaghan, with Stephen Coniglio towards the end of his career and Josh Kelly expected to miss much of the 2026 season with a hip injury.

Clayton Oliver on a boat on Sydney Harbour with GWS Giants coach Adam Kingsley, Lachie Ash and Finn Callaghan.Photo: Phil Hillyard.

On Thursday Oliver went on an expletive-laden rant towards a journalist during an attempted airport interview, explaining he was going to Sydney before flying to America for a holiday.

“Honestly, f--- off, I don’t know how many times I’ve got to say it, mate,” an irate Oliver is heard saying.

“I’m going to Sydney on a holiday and then I’m going to America, got nothing to do with anything.”

Clayton Oliver looked in good spirits as he met with the Giants. Photo: Phil Hillyard.

“Clayton is contracted for another five years. If he wants to explore his options in the upcoming AFL Trade Period, we will respect that,” Demons list boss Tim Lamb said.

Should he remain in the red and blue, we will of course continue to support and embrace him as part of our club.”

Kane Cornes labelled Oliver’s deal “the worst contract in football history signed by Melbourne”.

“This is a club that is willing to pay $700k (a year) out of their cap to a player to play for another club,” Cornes said on AFL Trade Radio.

The Demons are set to part ways with Oliver, veteran key defender Steven May and four-time All Australian Christian Petracca as the club looks to do a complete reset in 2026.

Clayton Oliver is set to leave Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

Demons small forward Charlie Spargo is also on the way out, requesting a trade to North Melbourne.

Petracca met with the Adelaide Crows but has nominated the Gold Coast Suns as his preferred destination despite having four years left on his current contract at Melbourne.

Gold Coast youngster Bailey Humphrey has been floated as a key asset the Suns could trade in order to land Petracca, while the Suns also have Sam Flanders and picks 6, 13, 16 and 32 to offer.

Humphrey was spotted meeting with Demons coach Steven King, his former line coach at the Suns, and club great Nathan Jones.

Gold Coast Suns youngster Bailey Humphrey. Photo: Lachie Millard

Bailey Humphrey meeting with Melbourne’s Nathan Jones and Steven King. Picture: thedeebrief on Instagram

A photo uploaded on Instagram via @thedeebrief appears to show the trio walking together in Melbourne, with the revelation coming to light just hours after Humphrey’s management spoke to CODE Sports.

“Bailey has not met with any clubs, and doesn’t have any plans to meet with any clubs,” Oakes said.

“As far as we are concerned, he is playing for Gold Coast in 2026.”

Humphrey is contracted until 2028, but Seven’s Xander McGuire said the race for his signature is “set to explode”.

AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey wrote on X: “Gold Coast has been adamant he (Humphrey) is not up for trade.”