‘Ship off’: Explosive twist in Clayton Oliver trade saga

The biggest storm of the AFL Trade Period has reached the point of no return with one club coming out guns blazing.

Clayton Oliver of the Demons. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

The Melbourne Demons have come out guns blazing in an explosive development in the Clayton Oliver trade saga.

Reports on Thursday revealed the club has read the riot act to Oliver as the situation reaches the point of no return.

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The drums were beating loud on Thursday morning with suggestions the Demons’ seven-year contract with Oliver had blown up in their face while he was reportedly open to being traded out of the club after a disappointing 2023 season.

It emerged on Wednesday there is friction between Oliver and the Melbourne Football Club as a result of his recovery from a hamstring injury and an infection — which forced him to miss 11 matches this season.

Clayton Oliver is one of the AFL’s biggest names. Photo by Michael Klein.

It has been speculated the Crows and Essendon are the most active clubs looking into the potential trade.

However, that all appears to have twisted dramatically following a meeting of Melbourne officials and its board of directors.

The Herald Sun first reported coach Simon Goodwin was involved in meetings that have resulted in Oliver being given a stunning ultimatum to change his attitude or change his football club.

The report claims Oliver is more likely to remain at the club as a result of the recent demands.

Tough love. Picture: Sarah Reed

It comes as SEN journalist Sam Edmund also reported new details of the ultimatum given to Oliver, suggesting the club was unhappy with the 26-year-old’s “erratic” behaviour.

“Melbourne has hit Clayton Oliver with an ultimatum – shape up or ship off,” Edmund said on SEN.

“Fed-up Demons officials have told their troubled midfielder that they need a commitment from him that he will once again conform to the standards and expectations the club demands.

They have made a series of demands to Oliver that include the need to treat club staff with respect, teammates with respect, prepare the way he should and to turn up to training in the proper condition.”

The report claims there has been “ill will” between the club and Oliver — something that has some rival clubs “smelling blood in the water”.

The Demons were on Wednesday warned “be careful what you wish for” after the news about Oliver dropped.

SEN’s Tom Morris reported the Demons want the right price in exchange for the star midfielder, adding the club would help the club in a bid to stockpile a “suite of draft picks” as they look to possibly move up the draft to the first overall spot.

The report also stressed that the Demons are not shopping Oliver yet but just “making it clear” to rival teams that they are open to the possibility.

Victorian prodigy Harley Reid is the red hot favourite to be the No. 1 pick in the draft.