Melbourne great Garry Lyon says club shouldn’t trade Clayton Oliver for anything

The Demons are rumoured to be aiming for a monster trade heist and Clayton Oliver is just part of it, leaving Garry Lyon “horrified”.

Clayton Oliver of the Demons Photo by Michael Klein.

Melbourne legend Garry Lyon says he’s “horrified at the thought” the Demons would even consider trading four-time best and fairest Clayton Oliver amid reports he could become available.

Rumours on Tuesday turned in to reports that while Melbourne had not put Oliver on the trade table, clubs had become aware of some discontent at the Demons and the possibility of a move was growing.

It’s understood Melbourne is keen to assemble enough draft picks to trade up to the No.1 pick to snare Harley Reid, and making Oliver available could help them.

It also comes after Oliver, who is contracted until 2030, endured a rollercoaster year with a serious hamstring injury and an infected foot which limited him to just 15 games.

But Lyon was left reeling at the prospect of the club moving on a “generational talent”, also finding it hard to believe other clubs could make room for his reported $1 million a year salary

“I’m horrified at the prospect … horrified at the thought this could happen,” he told SEN on Wednesday morning.

Clayton Oliver could be on the move (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

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

“We’re getting well ahead of the pack.

“I don’t think it’s them saying let’s trade Clayton to get a forward, I think it’s let’s deal with what we have got with Clayton and work out what’s best for the footy club.

“They are not shopping him and he’s not saying he wants to go.

“This is not a forgone conclusion.”

Amid suggestions the club and senior players are concerned about Oliver’s professionalism in his recovery from injury, Lyon said the club needed to be “strong enough” to work with him.

He pointed to how both Richmond and Collingwood worked with Dustin Martin and Jordan DeGoey to get incredible onfield results.

“Have a club that is strong enough and well equipped to deal with it. There have been a litany of superstars who have had their issues … you work your way through it,” he said.

“I’m not across all these other issues which may or may not be there. But they need to work out whether they are insurmountable or resolvable.”

Lyon said he wouldn’t trade Oliver “for anything”.