Melbourne privately telling Oliver to “look around” amid reports of Geelong meeting

Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver will reportedly meet with Geelong on Tuesday.

The Age’s Sam McClure reported earlier that the Demons midfielder was to meet with Cats heavyweights regarding the possibility of a trade.

It is understood that Demons officials were unaware of the proposed meeting, but they did fall short of making a public comment.

SEN regular and Channel 9 journalist Tom Morris has further information regarding the Oliver situation and how it has come to pass.

“Sam McClure’s story that Clayton Oliver is meeting with Geelong today is accurate,” Morris said on AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Feed.

“Let’s go back a few months to the middle of the year when Oliver’s management spoke to the club and floated the idea of a mutually beneficial move. 

“The Demons, at that point, were resolute. The answer was, ‘No, he’s not going anywhere’, and this message was reflected in their public messaging. 

“So Oliver moved on, he was happy to stay at Melbourne. And he still is. But in the last few weeks, things have changed from a club perspective. 

“Melbourne have said publicly Oliver is not going anywhere. But privately they have suggested he have a look around. 

“How hard they are pushing him out depends on who you speak to.

“But make no mistake, the Dees are happy for him to have a look. CEO Gary Pert has discussed the prospect of Oliver moving with a more open mind. It’s unclear what Simon Goodwin thinks of the prospect of losing his four-time best and fairest. 

“So it’s materialised in the last few weeks that Oliver is now having a look again. And before you ask - no, Christian Petracca has no issue with Oliver. His issue is with the way Melbourne handled Oliver’s situation last year. 

“Melbourne cannot afford to say they are pushing Oliver out because it diminishes his trade value. And while it was the truth mid-year, it’s not the truth now. 

“So if Geelong can convince Oliver to go there, the Demons won’t have the leverage they want because the Cats know it’s Melbourne and not Oliver who has initiated this.”

Morris outlined Melbourne’s “predicament” relating to the future of both Oliver and Christian Petracca, while forecasting what it would take for the Cats to get a deal done for Oliver.

“Melbourne’s predicament is this - they have a player who wants out - Petracca - who they won’t let go,” he added.

“And another player Oliver - who wants to stay - who they would prefer to leave. 

“You could argue this is their two best players. And what could you get from Geelong? Salary cap relief and a future first-rounder.”