Oliver jets to Sydney after Demons tell star midfielder to seek a new club

Clayton Oliver has jetted to Sydney on the same day that Melbourne encouraged him to find another club after a discussion about his role on Thursday morning.

The Demons, including new senior coach Steven King, told Oliver that he did not fit into their midfield plans, and Melbourne were happy for the four-time best-and-fairest winner to seek another club.

Oliver took to Instagram on Thursday to respond to reports that he was not guaranteed a spot in the Demons’ senior side next year.

“Actually doesn’t look too bad on me,” he said, along with a photo of him playing for the Casey Demons in the VFL.

As he was preparing to fly out to Sydney, Oliver had some choice words for a Seven reporter at Melbourne Airport.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve got to say it, mate – I’m going to Sydney on a holiday, and then I’m going to America, and it’s got nothing to do with anything,” Oliver said.

When asked if he’d be at Melbourne next year, Oliver responded: “You are phenomenal.”

Sources with knowledge of the situation said Oliver had no planned meetings with the Giants or the Swans while he was in Sydney. Oliver’s management, Connors Sports, told this masthead that the trip to New South Wales was a planned holiday before Thursday morning’s developments.

Demons list boss Tim Lamb confirmed his club’s meeting with Oliver and that they gave him their blessing to explore opportunities elsewhere.

“Today was a good chance to sit down with Clayton and share how Steven and the coaches see the game being played, and where the opportunities lie for him,” Lamb said.

“We were upfront with Clayton around the role he is likely to play next season and the need for him to develop his craft beyond the midfield to have his biggest impact within the team.

“It was honest and respectful, and Clayton is now clear on what we see his role being next year, and how we think he can best contribute.

“Clayton is contracted for another five years. If he wants to explore his options in the upcoming AFL trade period, we will respect that. Should he remain in the red and blue, we will, of course, continue to support and embrace him as part of our club.”

The premiership player was keen to stay with the Demons, according to a source with detailed knowledge of the discussion, speaking on condition of anonymity. Oliver has played 205 games for Melbourne since his debut in 2016.

This will be the third post-season in which Oliver has emerged as a potential trade target. Last year, Geelong were interested in acquiring him and met with him, including at Rhys Stanley’s farm. The Cats were willing to pick up the bulk of Oliver’s then-six-year deal (now five), which averages close to $1.3 million a season.

The Demons ultimately found the outline of that proposed deal from the Cats unacceptable. But the change of coach and chief executive, with premiership coach Simon Goodwin replaced by ex-Geelong assistant King and Paul Guerra appointed as CEO, has prompted Melbourne to take a more hard-headed stand on not only Oliver, but also star veteran defender Steven May.

The Demons have also given Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca the green light to explore his options after a meeting late last week. He met with Adelaide on Monday and has already spoken with Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick. Petracca is contracted for a further four years, on similar money to Oliver.

The Demons are aware they’d almost certainly have to pay a reasonable share of Oliver’s salary in a trade – depending on a range of factors including his destination club, and what the Demons would get in return.

Melbourne’s tough call on Oliver is also based on a recognition that the game has changed from the one in which he was so dominant, and that teams no longer need an abundance of inside midfielders.

Oliver was willing to take a small pay cut at Geelong previously. He is contracted until the end of 2030.

Oliver’s off-field issues, which frustrated the Demons in 2023, particularly over the strife-ridden post-season of that year – he was forced to train away from the team for a period during the pre-season – have not been as problematic in 2025.

Melbourne’s stance is a measure of their wish for a cultural overhaul.

Another Demon, Judd McVee, has requested a trade to Fremantle, while premiership forward Charlie Spargo will leave for North Melbourne in free agency.

The Cats could be an option again for Oliver.

Melbourne’s change of heart on Oliver comes eight months after outgoing president Brad Green told this masthead that the midfielder was “teary” last year during a phone call between the pair where Green told him he was “not going anywhere”.

“I said [to Oliver], ‘It’s OK, mate. I love you, I love having you around the club, you’re a four-time B&F winner, you’re going to go down as one of our champion players and [a] hall of famer at our football club, and you’re going to be a big part of our future’,” Green said in February.

Oliver’s value across the league is unclear, given his significant contract and him not reaching his earlier heights across the past two seasons, including finishing only seventh in this year’s best-and-fairest award.

The triple All-Australian averaged 29 or more disposals in every season bar one from 2017-23 as one of the AFL’s best players, the only exception being 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in shorter games.

That number dipped to 23 last year before improving to 25.5 this past season.

Adelaide and Geelong both considered making moves for Oliver at the time, but the Demons’ then-CEO, Gary Pert, wrote in a letter to members that “at no stage has the club entered discussions with any club regarding a trade for Clayton [and] Clayton has not requested a trade”.

Oliver went to hospital in an ambulance in October that year, after hitting his head following a seizure.

The Oliver and Petracca situations are a contrast, in that Melbourne have pushed Oliver to explore a move, whereas Petracca has requested a move.

Oliver and Petracca were Melbourne’s leading midfielders during their run to the 2021 premiership.

However, much has changed in the years since as a once-promising era that seemed capable of being a Demons dynasty came crashing down, including Goodwin’s sacking. Melbourne did not win a single final after that drought-busting flag win, and finished 14th the past two seasons.

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