Shock revelations that Melbourne star Clayton Oliver is seeking a trade to Geelong this off-season has seen the Demons once again roundly criticised, with Kane Cornes describing Oliver’s current contract as ‘the worst we have ever seen’.
Just 12 months on from having his name thrust into trade speculation amid a stand-off between the club and the 2021 premiership hero over his off-field behaviour, Oliver has reportedly expressed interest in a move to the Cats after meeting with ruckman Rhys Stanley and star defender Tom Stewart at the former’s farm.
The 27-year old is just one year into a monster seven-year deal worth upwards of $10 million.
Speaking on AFL Trade Radio, SEN reporter Sam Edmund revealed Oliver ‘upset some teammates’ with an incident at the 2024 Brownlow Medal, with the Dees’ football department including coach Simon Goodwin keen to retain him while club CEO Gary Pert has ‘sounded out’ rivals over the possibility of a trade.
The revelations prompted Kane Cornes to blast the Dees’ monster Oliver contract.
>> Burning questions from Clayton Oliver trade bombshell
“We need to put Melbourne’s list management team in the gun for what is the worst contract we have ever seen,” he said.
“[Until] 2030, six years, $10 million left… a deal of that magnitude and that length would have get to get sign-off at Board level.
“The club thought it would be a smart move to sign a high-maintenance player with medical issues and off-field issues.
“Since he signed the contact, has it worked? You’d have to say no.
“It’s been one of the greatest disasters in the history of list management.”
Complicating any Oliver trade is the Cats’ desire to land wantaway Bulldog Bailey Smith, with the Dogs set to demand more than just the Cats’ first-round pick, currently sitting at 15, in exchange.
>> Check out the latest AFL Trade Rumours
Clayton Oliver is tackled by Lance Collard. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Bont claims sixth Dogs B&F, star teammate deemed ‘overrated’ after top 10 miss
Marcus Bontempelli’s status as arguably the Western Bulldogs’ greatest ever player has been enhanced after the star midfielder claimed a sixth club best and fairest award.
Bontempelli, who was named to a sixth All-Australian team and named the AFL Players Association’s MVP for a third time at September’s AFL Awards, was a runaway winner of the 2024 Charles Sutton Medal, polling 314 votes to finish well ahead of joint runners-up Adam Treloar and Bailey Dale (245).
Key back Liam Jones (203) and backman-turned-midfielder Ed Richards (188) rounded out the top five, while reborn defender Rory Lobb capped a remarkable mid-season turnaround to finish eighth, also winning the Brad Johnson Best Team Player Award in recognition of his acclaimed switch to defence.
Bontempelli’s win leaves him behind only club great Scott West (seven) for most Bulldogs best and fairest wins.
However, speaking on AFL Trade Radio, Kane Cornes had a different Dog in his sights, blasting key forward Aaron Naughton for missing the top ten.
Naughton is contracted until the end of 2032 after signing an eight-year contract extension 12 months ago, but missed four games and was injured before half time in another two in 2024 – though his efforts were enough to be named in Champion Data’s All-Australian team.
“[He] continues to be the most overrated player in football,” Cornes said.
“How you cannot finish top ten in a best and fairest – yes, he missed a couple of games… if you are getting beaten by Lachlan Bramble in your best and fairest, if you’re being beaten by Rory Lobb, for goodness’ sake, Bailey Williams, Taylor Duryea in your best and fairest, and you’ve signed a deal until the end of 2032 and you are probably the highest paid player in that squad, you just have to be better.
“This is a player that’s been around for a while now, in the prime of his career. Never even in the All-Australian squad, never won a best and fairest. We speak about Aaron Naughton as if he’s one of the great key forwards in the current game – he’s just not.
“If he can’t even finish top 10 in his best and fairest and Duryea and Williams and Lobb and Bramble and Liam Jones and Bailey Dale, who was dropped at the start of the year, are beating him in the best and fairest, then they need to question what role they want him to play.
“He’s got to question his influence on games and whether he’s ever going to be the player that they think they’ve signed until the end of 2032.”