“Honestly, f*** off”: Oliver's journo spray as new trade suitor emerges

- Trade news live as it happens

Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver has been filmed leaving Melbourne Airport just hours after his explosive meeting with the Demons.

The midfielder met with new Demons coach Steven King today about what the future holds, but it seems his days with the club are over after the Dees told him they would pay as much as half of his contract if he were to find a new home.

In the wake of that meeting, Oliver spoke to Seven’s Mitch Cleary at Tullamarine, greeting the reporter with a smile before sending some expletive language his way.

“Honestly, f*** off, I don’t know how many times I’ve got to say it mate,” he said.

“I’m going to Sydney on a holiday, and then I’m going to America, got nothing to do with anything.”

Oliver was then filmed approaching the Seven camera saying, “Oh f***, I hate that c***, he is a f****”.

With the Demon now almost certainly on the move, SEN’s Tom Morris is reporting that GWS has emerged as an early, serious suitor. While Collingwood and Adelaide are also expected to explore moves.

SEN’s Sam Edmund also reported earlier today that Oliver was told he’d have to accept a role change if he remained at Melbourne, with no guarantee of midfield minutes.

"Melbourne is willing to pay as much as $700,000 (just over half) of Oliver's contract per year for the next five years in any trade," SEN's Sam Edmund said.

"The Demons today called him to a meeting to sell him a role change, expecting him to reject it. His days as an inside mid at Melbourne are over.

"The meeting was the first time he met the new coach face-to-face. In that meeting the coach outlined a new set of guidelines for Oliver and they didn’t make for great listening for him.

"He will not play a role in the engine room at Melbourne and would have to accept VFL time.

"Melbourne have told him his days in that role are over and to look for new opportunities.

"This is the third consecutive year his name has been up in trade chat.

"They want him out of the club. They will pay half his wage a year to get him off the books and facilitate this reset.”

Tom Morris has further reported that if Oliver is to remain at the Dees, VFL football could beckon.

"Melbourne has told Clayton Oliver today they can't guarantee him a spot in the senior team in 2026, and would be happy to facilitate a fair trade if he can find a new home. If not, VFL football beckons," Morris said.

"Last year Geelong offered a future first rounder & a 6x$1 million deal, but the Dees said no. It's unclear if similar offers would be forthcoming this year from rivals.

"Oliver is frustrated. It's the third year in a row he will be front and centre in trade discussions."

Oliver is contracted until 2030.

Earlier this morning, Edmund reported that the club would be initiating talks with the out-of-favour player.

“I want to bring some breaking news to you out of Melbourne,” Edmund said on AFL Trade Radio.

“It concerns Clayton Oliver. Clayton has been summoned to a meeting today with Steven King to be introduced to the new Melbourne coach. The pair haven’t met face to face before.

“It’s my understanding that in this meeting today Steven King will outline his plans for Clayton Oliver next season, and there will be a change in role, certainly a change in philosophy, a change in how they want to use Clayton Oliver.

“From what I’m told that may or may not be to Clayton’s liking, and all options are on the table here in terms of him being asked to explore his options, Clayton saying he wants to explore his options.

“At the moment his immediate playing future is uncertain. He had been largely resolved in his own mind that he wanted to stay at Melbourne for the long term and make it work.

“I’m not sure if that feeling is 100 per cent reciprocated by Melbourne.

“So that meeting will take place. He’s being summoned there, I’m told, specifically. It’s an open-ended conversation that could go in any direction.”

Tom Morris added further information on the Oliver situation.

He says the 28-year-old is “flat” that the Dees are open to him moving on.

“It’s accurate to say he’s got a meeting with the club,” Morris added on AFL Trade Radio.

“He fully expects to be told to explore his options in that meeting. I can tell you this morning that he’s very flat about that scenario.

“This is very late. Oliver hasn’t met with any other clubs, he’s on well over a million dollars, so rivals have very little time to consider how to fit him in and to move contracts around.

“He was committed to staying for 2026 in the end. I understand Geelong had a six-year times $1 million deal on the table for him last year and a future first-rounder. Melbourne said no.

“The year before Adelaide were prepared to give up two first-rounders when Gary Pert floated his name to the Crows. It still didn’t happen.

“For the third year in a row, Oliver is in limbo and Melbourne has a big decision to make. Will they pay some of his salary? If so, how much? What will they ask for via a trade?

“His contract dictates a first-rounder at least. His overall form probably doesn’t, which is why this is so difficult.”

Morris believes the Dees are looking to blow things up after a failed 2025 season which ultimately led to Goodwin's sacking and could lead to major player movement.

“Today’s meeting is further proof that Melbourne is seeking an entirely fresh start under Steven King. A new beginning. No Petracca, no Oliver, and ideally for them, no Steven May,” he continued.

“It takes me back to a conversation I had with someone in March after he had spoken to Max Gawn directly. He told him fairly bluntly that if 2025 doesn’t work out on the field that the Demons would more than likely blow it up and start again.

“That’s been in the back of my mind all year and here we are today with Oliver likely on the trade table, Petracca going to the Suns or the Crows, and May maybe on the move as well.”

It’s not the first time Oliver’s future at the Dees has been questioned with rumours circulating over the last few years that he has been unhappy at the club.

But speaking just a few weeks prior to the official AFL Trade Period, Oliver’s manager Nick Gieschen of Connors Sports Management said his client was resolute on staying put.

“He’s very happy at Melbourne, loves the club and wants to have a great season in 2026,” Gieschen said.

“He’s a Melbourne person.”