Interim Demons president Brad Inexperienced has declared Clayton Oliver is not going wherever amid heavy hypothesis he is closing in on a commerce to Geelong.
After every week of hypothesis surrounding Oliver’s future, Inexperienced used his speech on the membership’s end-of-season dinner on Friday evening to place the rumours to mattress.
“I do know come spherical one subsequent yr, once I see the primary ball bounced, and our midfield of [Max] Gawn, [Jack] Viney, [Clayton] Oliver and [Christian] Petracca, our first clearance, that you just Melbourne trustworthy might be there in full power,” he mentioned.
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The point out of Oliver and Petracca, which got here amid a wider spiel concerning the membership and supporters to stay united after a tumultuous season, drew cheers and a spherical of applause.
Clayton Oliver (proper) and Christian Petracca of the Demons. AFL Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Studies all through the week urged the troubled midfielder was all however out the exit door and talks with Geelong would seemingly warmth up throughout the commerce interval subsequent week.
Petracca, too, was reportedly strongly contemplating leaving after his household turned infuriated at how the membership dealt with his severe accidents earlier this season. In the end the Demons satisfied him to remain put.
On Friday, journalist Sam Edmund instructed AFL Commerce Radio he believes the Demons will stymie Oliver’s transfer, regardless of widespread perception the membership was eager to dump the 27-year-old.
“I believe there’s an actual likelihood that at the most effective and fairest tonight, Melbourne are going to rise up and shut this down fully,” Edmund mentioned.
Kane Cornes responded “it’s a full dumpster hearth at Melbourne proper now”.
Skipper Max Gawn ripped the “regarding” leaks about Oliver’s future, which appeared to have come from inside the membership.
Whereas Gawn claims to haven’t any inside data of the conversations, it’s the reality info retains discovering its solution to media that has him fuming.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn. Getty
“I do not sit in checklist administration, and I do not wish to sit in checklist administration,” Gawn instructed Triple M Breakfast with Rosie, Wil & Daisy.
“So, I can share my opinion – which I am not going to share now – and in reality I am getting just a little bit irritated about what number of of our opinions are getting out, so that’s fairly regarding and one thing we might want to tackle.”
Oliver was on the verge of being traded throughout final yr’s post-season interval however in the end stayed on the Demons, the place he has six years remaining on a profitable long-term contract.
He’s being paid about $1.3 million per season. The Demons would seemingly need to pay a few of that even when he went to a rival membership.
On Thursday Cornes labelled it the worst contract within the historical past of the AFL.
Oliver gained the 2021 premiership with Melbourne and is a three-time All-Australian, however has been suffering from accidents and off-field incidents over the previous 12 months.
He missed many of the 2024 pre-season after a tumultuous few months and teammates have been left questioning when he can be obtainable to play once more.
The Demons themselves have been beneath intense scrutiny given how badly the membership appears to have declined since that 2021 triumph.
The commerce interval formally opens on Monday.
