Clayton Oliver’s future is casting a shadow over Melbourne’s greatest and fairest for a second consecutive season amid Geelong’s curiosity within the disgruntled midfielder.
The foolish season formally began on Friday, with St Kilda defender Josh Battle becoming a member of Hawthorn through free company and the Saints receiving decide 8 as compensation.
Additionally on the transfer are Harry Perryman, who linked up with Collingwood from GWS, whereas Elliott Himmelberg joined Gold Coast from Adelaide.
The commerce interval itself begins on Monday, which ABC Sport will reside weblog all through the week.
Oliver met with Geelong this week as he considers his future, regardless of having six years left on a profitable contract that runs till the top of 2030.
“My job is to place my arm round Clayton all through this complete course of,” Demons captain Max Gawn advised Triple M.
“I like Clayton the participant, and I’ve advised him that, however I like the Clayton the particular person a complete lot extra.
“I’ll be there it doesn’t matter what, all through something good or dangerous, and I hope Clayton is aware of that.
“Generally you’ll be able to suppose your captain is type of concerned in just a few issues, I promise I am not.
“I do not sit in listing administration and I do not wish to.”
Melbourne had reportedly tried to buy the midfielder round, prompting four-time greatest and fairest winner Oliver to check the market.
The assembly with the Cats was reportedly held at ruckman Rhys Stanley’s farm, with defender Tom Stewart and Geelong officers additionally readily available.
At Geelong’s greatest and fairest on Thursday evening, Stewart confirmed the assembly with Oliver, 27.
“It was good. Clearly any type of expertise we are able to appeal to to the membership is necessary for us,” Stewart advised the Seven Community.
“So I had the chance to satisfy with him and it is an fascinating factor for me in my stage of the profession, however it went nicely, he is a very good man.
“It is probably not pitching something, it is simply type of enlightening him as to what we’re about on the footy membership and the issues that we maintain expensive and the issues that we actually worth.
“There’s a whole lot of issues that have to occur if a possible deal will get carried out but when we are able to appeal to expertise to the membership, that is what we’re about.”
Any deal would doubtless require Melbourne to nonetheless pay a part of Oliver’s hefty wage.
Geelong would wish to get inventive when it comes to commerce capital, given their first-round draft decide will doubtless be used to acquire Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith.
Melbourne’s greatest and fairest awards are on Friday evening.
Final 12 months, chief government Gary Pert launched a press release through a letter to members simply hours earlier than the occasion, saying Oliver wouldn’t be traded.
That might occur once more.
The supremely gifted midfielder has struggled along with his health and off-field points over the previous two years.
Coach Simon Goodwin has made it clear he desires to maintain each Oliver and Christian Petracca, who dedicated to the Demons for 2025 after agitating for a commerce.
The unrest as soon as once more flies within the face of feedback from Pert late final 12 months that Melbourne’s tradition was the perfect he had seen in 40 years.
AFL free agent actions on Friday
Josh Battle — The Saints defender will be a part of Hawthorn, with St Kilda receiving decide 8 as compensation.
Harry Perryman – The GWS swingman will be a part of Collingwood, with the Giants receiving decide 16 as compensation.
Nick Haynes – The veteran GWS defender will be a part of Carlton as an unrestricted free agent.
Elliott Himmelberg – The Crows huge man will be a part of the Gold Coast Suns as an unrestricted free agent.
Isaac Cumming — The Giants defender will be a part of Adelaide after signing a six-year deal, with GWS to obtain an finish of first spherical decide as compensation.
Tom Campbell — The St Kilda ruckman will head to Melbourne as back-up for Max Gawn.
AAP
