Clayton Oliver reportedly wants ‘fresh start’ at new club... but $1.5m deal a potential snag

Star Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver reportedly wants a “fresh start” at a new club in 2026.

Oliver has been linked to trades over the last two off-seasons — including the three-time All-Australian pursing a move to Geelong last trade period — before the Demons stood form in keeping him.

The gun ball winner has put a turbulent 12 months behind him to bounce back this season. He’s averaged 27.6 disposals 5.4 tackles and seven clearances per game but missed Melbourne’s win over West Coast in Perth last weekend for personal reasons.

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Nine’s Tom Morris report Oliver is “invested” in the Dees and “loves” the club, but would simply prefer a new beginning.

“My understanding is he does want a fresh start again at the end of the year. This conversation will happen at the end of the season, as it has the last two seasons,” Morris said on Footy Furnace.

“Then it will be up to Melbourne how they want to deal with it. It’s nothing against the Demons, it’s just a change of environment and change of scenery he’d prefer. Whether it’s Geelong or somewhere else.”

A potential snag, however, in any trade is that Oliver is on a contract estimated to be worth north of $1.5 million per season until 2030, which proved to be a roadblock in his attempted move to Geelong at the end of last season.

“He’s on $1.5-$1.7 million a year and he’s contracted until 2030. So I don’t see how Melbourne can offload him, even if they wanted to, and not pay some of this salary, which I can’t see them wanting to do either,” Morris added.

“They all might just be snookered and say: ‘Clarry, you’ve got to stay. Keep playing as good a football as you can’.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 24: Clayton Oliver of the Demons runs with the ball during the round seven AFL match between Melbourne Demons and Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on April 24, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 24: Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver of the Demons during the 2025 AFL Round 07 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 24, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Chief Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark last month urged the Cats to again pursue Oliver as “a missing link” to Chris Scott’s on-ball brigade.

Oliver has also previously been linked to Adelaide in the 2023 off-season.

The 27-year old on the eve of this season spoke candidly about his chequered past and how it “a bit annoying” he was nearly traded at the end of last year.

He’s expected to return against for the Demons’ clash with Hawthorn this week.

“I think as an industry we’re getting very mature now about the wellbeing space and the mental health space and making sure if you aren’t feeling well, put your hand up,” Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said of Oliver after the win over West Coast.

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“We’re very proud of Clayton to be able to do that and say I need some time.

“We’re hopeful that by the time we get back from Perth he’ll be feeling a little bit better and integrate back into our program but we’ll wait and see.

“We’re not going to put any pressure on him.

“We just want to make sure he’s healthy, as we have done for a long time now. We’ll welcome him back with open arms.”

Melbourne last week announced Paul Guerra as its new CEO to continue a raft of off-field changes over the last 12 months.

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