Oliver Trade Rumours

[titan_uranus 24,957]

42 minutes ago, WiseDeeMan said:

I was told at the beginning of 2021 specifically from a former player (hasn't been at the club for a 2-3 years now) Oliver is big, big trouble.  He is treated differently to everyone else simply because he is a good player. If others were to do some of the things he does, they would be treated very differently.  He mentioned that one day when Oliver was behaving poorly, he gave it to him straight....yet Oliver wasn't the one reprimanded, it was Goodwin who spoke with this particular player and said "you can't talk to Clayton like that, we have to be careful with him". 

I would say enough is enough.  He clearly is massive trouble and has a huge contract.  Let go of getting compensated fairly based on his playing ability alone.  It's the whole package you must look at, his character is highly questionable and his contract will haunt us for years to come if he stays.

I'm guessing here, and this is just my opinion, but we have heard Petracca isn't upset with Oliver, but more with the way the club has handled him. I would say this is consistent with the above - they have had rules for him, and rules for others.  

It also was backed up by the infamous Pert / Goodwin interview where they said we've tolerated things and he will now be held accountable for his actions.  

Overall a good move by the MFC I say. 

27 minutes ago, Swooper1987 said:

Heard the same, from a very well known and highly regarded former player who left the club following the 2021 flag. Gawn and Petracca are very much in alignment over the way the Oliver "issues" have been allowed to fester over a period of time. 

2021, eh?

So that’s before we signed him to a 7 year million dollar contract that is now the noose around our necks in trying to do what you both are implying is the right thing to do?

[BLWNBA 886]

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

He's been a handful for the footy club and the players for the past couple of years.

The club has gone way above and beyond more then anyone on the playing list. It's no wonder the players are completely fed up with him because he simply won't learn or take responsibility for his actions and behaviours. 

How about for once Oliver takes responsibility for his own actions and start acting like a grown adult for once in his life.

He's 27, not an 18 year old kid.

Paying a guy pretty much 1 million a year to take the absolute [censored] out of the system sums it all up.

There is an absolutely no way anyone  can accuse the footy club for its lack of support because if anything the club has supported him to the tilt.

He literally had to live with the Gawns this year because the club cannot trust him off field.

 

Agree with all points, and for all the faults of the club - there was nothing more that could be done to support Oliver. We as a club absolutely lent in to support him in an authentic and genuine manner. It went far beyond traditional window dressing and I'm actually proud of the club for this. 

What is absolutely disappointing for mine, is the toing and throwing the club has done over the past two seasons with Oliver. It's weak and frankly pretty embarrassing. We made a decision to back him in and mend the relationship, yet the club has acted akin to a parent that makes empty threats and everyone knows it - including the child; a real "if you keep doing that, you'll be getting out of the pool", and then the parent never delivers.

If we're at a point we're the relationship is untenable, or the concerns around Oliver and his behaviour/standards can no longer be tolerated, then get him out. The weakness of the club in this regard is embarrassing and frankly somewhat farcical. 

Edited October 4 by BLWNBA

[dazzledavey36 53,809]

16 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

It’s ok. I understand where you’re coming from. Trust me nobody is more aware of Clarry’s issues. 

Whichever way you look at it tho, the club has handled this appallingly. It’s just another f up in a long list of f ups from the management team of this club. Which has why I keep saying that getting rid of Clarry, doesn’t magically fix all that is broken at this club. 

I agree, it's been handled extremely poorly.

Start off by getting rid of Pert for starters. This wouldn't be handled so poorly under Peter Jacksons and Josh Mahoneys watch.

Look at the way we professionally handled the Jack Watts and Jesse Hogan scenario. 

[Mach5 4,766]

13 hours ago, Fanatique Demon said:

The Age says that on his current contract Oliver would be easily the highest-paid player at Geelong. So that’s ahead of Jeremy Cameron and Patrick Dangerfield.  It says Geelong has rarely overpaid for even the top-end players they have had. Seems like they’re far better money and player managers than we are.

Interesting way of phrasing it...

[old55 23,247]

[JJJ 1,175]

Im sure this is public knowledge but I’ll repeat it anyway, Clazz has been a load since his first season.

When Brendan McCartney was at the club, he got so sick and tired of Oliver’s antics that he sat him down in his office and showed him a long list of names.

He said, “do you recognise these names?”

”yeah some of them”

McCartney replied, “these are all the people at the club who think you’re a [censored]!!”

McCartney was really good for Oliver in those early days. Oliver was unaware that his behaviour was so impactful to so many people. McCartney was no nonsense and steered Oliver the right direction in terms of professionalism and treatment of others.

[Red But Mostly Blue 4,535]

Whether you think Clarry should, or should not, be traded is not really the issue here.

This has been handled ATROCIOUSLY by the club - again. Like last year. And Trac this year.

IF there is an issue - you DON'T destroy the club's bargaining power. It's as if we love entering into these situations (off our own bat) with the weakest hand possible. A self-inflicted handicap. Do we love the challenge? 

Personally, I want Clarry to stay. The notion of giving him (and his potential next year after a big preseason) up for a future pick in the LATE TEENS, plus likely paying some of his salary (to save for whom? Because of all this [censored] WHO wants to come to our club?? WHY?) makes no sense. If our window was not already closed with Gus gone, Trac a question mark for next year (either because we're just not sure when he will play, or his level due to injuries), then it will certainly be closed with Clarry gone. We have NO depth, and because of this mess cannot trade or recruit to fill gaps. Furthermore, any kids we get will need guys like Clarry to learn from. 

If Clarry has issues, still, fine. Apparently this has been known for some time. Like every other club we deal with it. If there have been mistakes made re other players - you acknowledge it - get everyone into a room, talk about it, clear the air and remind these guys that we are a FOOTY CLUB, a once great club, now apparently focused on drama and dirty laundry. You get on the same page about trying to snag a flag next year. If Trac and Carry are on the park, and we can somehow, perhaps through prayer lol, convince some talent to join us and fill a couple of gaps, we have enough talent to do some damage next year. 

BUT - everyone has to be on the same page. Clear the air. Put the mistakes behind us. Learn. FOCUS on what is needed to correct course next year. No more silly emails. Just good footy. 

I want Clarry in the red and blue next year. He needs help to focus. I get it. If there was an offer of 2 first rounders, or 1 first rounder and a solid player, fine. Maybe you say ok we cut our losses. But that ain't the case. Dropping Clarry for nothing at all, just to 'save cap space' and a future F1, for the Cats, will be late teens if we're lucky. Pointless. Meanwhile the Cats do what we should have done/do, sort Clarry out, and he helps them to win another flag next year.

Stuff that. Let's fix this. Shake hands. Build together. Snag a flag. 

#SnagAFlag

[praha 11,226]

37 minutes ago, drdrake said:

Great efforts no doubt, if a club offered me 2 top 10 picks I would jump at it.  Nothing to do with a bad season, it is how he prepared for the season.

I also don't believe we can win another flag with our current midfield.  You need to plan for the Tassie Drafts, Oliver had trade currency although that seems extremely diminished now.

Yes two top 10 picks... few if any players in the league are worth more than that. But we aren't going to get that, are we?

If the club can't reign in an off the rails 26 year old with that sort of resume, I genuinely have zero hope for the club.

[demoncat 1,137]

4 minutes ago, Red But Mostly Blue said:

Whether you think Clarry should, or should not, be traded is not really the issue here.

This has been handled ATROCIOUSLY by the club - again. Like last year. And Trac this year.

IF there is an issue - you DON'T destroy the club's bargaining power. It's as if we love entering into these situations (off our own bat) with the weakest hand possible. A self-inflicted handicap. Do we love the challenge? 

Personally, I want Clarry to stay. The notion of giving him (and his potential next year after a big preseason) up for a future pick in the LATE TEENS, plus likely paying some of his salary (to save for whom? Because of all this [censored] WHO wants to come to our club?? WHY?) makes no sense. If our window was not already closed with Gus gone, Trac a question mark for next year (either because we're just not sure when he will play, or his level due to injuries), then it will certainly be closed with Clarry gone. We have NO depth, and because of this mess cannot trade or recruit to fill gaps. Furthermore, any kids we get will need guys like Clarry to learn from. 

If Clarry has issues, still, fine. Apparently this has been known for some time. Like every other club we deal with it. If there have been mistakes made re other players - you acknowledge it - get everyone into a room, talk about it, clear the air and remind these guys that we are a FOOTY CLUB, a once great club, now apparently focused on drama and dirty laundry. You get on the same page about trying to snag a flag next year. If Trac and Carry are on the park, and we can somehow, perhaps through prayer lol, convince some talent to join us and fill a couple of gaps, we have enough talent to do some damage next year. 

BUT - everyone has to be on the same page. Clear the air. Put the mistakes behind us. Learn. FOCUS on what is needed to correct course next year. No more silly emails. Just good footy. 

I want Clarry in the red and blue next year. He needs help to focus. I get it. If there was an offer of 2 first rounders, or 1 first rounder and a solid player, fine. Maybe you say ok we cut our losses. But that ain't the case. Dropping Clarry for nothing at all, just to 'save cap space' and a future F1, for the Cats, will be late teens if we're lucky. Pointless. Meanwhile the Cats do what we should have done/do, sort Clarry out, and he helps them to win another flag next year.

Stuff that. Let's fix this. Shake hands. Build together. Snag a flag. 

#SnagAFlag

My thoughts exactly 💯 

[Jjrogan 1,416]

So in summary.

Clarry been a problem child since day 1.

Club tolerated his behaviour because of his ability 

MFC, with the full information set and endorsement of the board, gave him a monster contract

Decided in year 8 of his career, standards are standards. Enough is enough!  Some sort of three strikes and yer out rule.

Clarry, being a human being, found it very hard to change his hard wired behaviour.  I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. 

Ok, yer out!  And take your contract with you. We'll take pick 18. 

Go home MFC, you're drunk.  

 

 

[mo64 5,783]

12 minutes ago, Red But Mostly Blue said:

Whether you think Clarry should, or should not, be traded is not really the issue here.

This has been handled ATROCIOUSLY by the club - again. Like last year. And Trac this year.

IF there is an issue - you DON'T destroy the club's bargaining power. It's as if we love entering into these situations (off our own bat) with the weakest hand possible. A self-inflicted handicap. Do we love the challenge? 

 

Great summation. 

If we were not prepared to trade Oliver at any cost, then we should have set a price when we put him on the market. If we stipulated what the bare minimum compo would be, and there was no interest, then things could have been nipped in the bud before Oliver met with the Cats.

With the way things have transpired, Oliver's position at the club was untenable only at the right price. Crazy!!!!

[Fromgotowoewodin 1,587]

9 minutes ago, Jjrogan said:

So in summary.

Clarry been a problem child since day 1.

Club tolerated his behaviour because of his ability 

MFC, with the full information set and endorsement of the board, gave him a monster contract

Decided in year 8 of his career, standards are standards. Enough is enough!  Some sort of three strikes and yer out rule.

Clarry, being a human being, found it very hard to change his hard wired behaviour.  I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. 

Ok, yer out!  And take your contract with you. We'll take pick 18. 

Go home MFC, you're drunk.  

 

 

I think this is harsh. By the sounds of it he’s had issues all the way through but up until 2022 it seems like he was managing pretty well (as shown by 4 B&Fs, 2 coaches, flag etc).

The breakup and the hammy seem to have derailed him to the point where it’s not the same trade off anymore, ability v drama may be tolerable if the ability is elite but if the output is getting lower and the drama is getting higher then there comes a point where it’s not worth it.

Contract was too long in hindsight but I can only imagine the meltdowns on here if he’d asked for a trade because we only offered him 4 or 5 years instead.

[Red But Mostly Blue 4,535]

13 minutes ago, mo64 said:

Great summation. 

If we were not prepared to trade Oliver at any cost, then we should have set a price when we put him on the market. If we stipulated what the bare minimum compo would be, and there was no interest, then things could have been nipped in the bud before Oliver met with the Cats.

With the way things have transpired, Oliver's position at the club was untenable only at the right price. Crazy!!!!

Yep. If nothing else comes of this, I would hope someone sends every single relevant person at the Club back to school to complete Negotiation 101. The basics. 

[Jjrogan 1,416]

6 minutes ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

I think this is harsh. By the sounds of it he’s had issues all the way through but up until 2022 it seems like he was managing pretty well (as shown by 4 B&Fs, 2 coaches, flag etc).

The breakup and the hammy seem to have derailed him to the point where it’s not the same trade off anymore, ability v drama may be tolerable if the ability is elite but if the output is getting lower and the drama is getting higher then there comes a point where it’s not worth it.

Contract was too long in hindsight but I can only imagine the meltdowns on here if he’d asked for a trade because we only offered him 4 or 5 years instead.

Fair points, but of all the possible ways to handle this, pushing him out at his lowest value in a fire sale is embarrassing

[daisycutter 29,555]

55 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

2021, eh?

So that’s before we signed him to a 7 year million dollar contract that is now the noose around our necks in trying to do what you both are implying is the right thing to do?

yeah, i think his manager really pulled the wool over our eyes on a 7 year + $9M smackeroos contract, right in the middle of his meltdown.  really looking a crazy deal. it's not that his behavioural problems were something new or fleeting

[Sir Why You Little 36,806]

18 minutes ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

I think this is harsh. By the sounds of it he’s had issues all the way through but up until 2022 it seems like he was managing pretty well (as shown by 4 B&Fs, 2 coaches, flag etc).

The breakup and the hammy seem to have derailed him to the point where it’s not the same trade off anymore, ability v drama may be tolerable if the ability is elite but if the output is getting lower and the drama is getting higher then there comes a point where it’s not worth it.

Contract was too long in hindsight but I can only imagine the meltdowns on here if he’d asked for a trade because we only offered him 4 or 5 years instead.

The “12 week Hammy” injury was when things went into hyperspace and the video started to appear. His Hammy’s were ok….

[DeeSpencer 25,244]

55 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I agree, it's been handled extremely poorly.

Start off by getting rid of Pert for starters. This wouldn't be handled so poorly under Peter Jacksons and Josh Mahoneys watch.

Look at the way we professionally handled the Jack Watts and Jesse Hogan scenario. 

Hogan had a desperate Freo chasing him, they pretended they weren’t but they coughed up the pick 6.

Watts we were happy to take what we got.

Oliver was completely un-tradeable last year. Probably we shouldn’t have even tried, but initial reports were clubs were after him sending his availability. Either way his behavioural issues were going to come to light.

This year he seems to have 1 genuine trade suitor but they’re offering nothing. If we are mucking around and indecivise it’s a terrible look. If we are genuinely committed to trading him but have to downplay it to up the Cats offer then this is the unfortunate reality of the nature of afl trades.

[Roost it far 8,039]

I've read all the posts and I've got just this, it shows the trajectory of the Melbourne FC since the Flag on the left and on the right the club today as it prepares to talk itself back into contention.

Edited October 4 by Roost it far

[Garbo 1,513]

54 minutes ago, Red But Mostly Blue said:

Whether you think Clarry should, or should not, be traded is not really the issue here.

This has been handled ATROCIOUSLY by the club - again. Like last year. And Trac this year.

IF there is an issue - you DON'T destroy the club's bargaining power. It's as if we love entering into these situations (off our own bat) with the weakest hand possible. A self-inflicted handicap. Do we love the challenge? 

Personally, I want Clarry to stay. The notion of giving him (and his potential next year after a big preseason) up for a future pick in the LATE TEENS, plus likely paying some of his salary (to save for whom? Because of all this [censored] WHO wants to come to our club?? WHY?) makes no sense. If our window was not already closed with Gus gone, Trac a question mark for next year (either because we're just not sure when he will play, or his level due to injuries), then it will certainly be closed with Clarry gone. We have NO depth, and because of this mess cannot trade or recruit to fill gaps. Furthermore, any kids we get will need guys like Clarry to learn from. 

If Clarry has issues, still, fine. Apparently this has been known for some time. Like every other club we deal with it. If there have been mistakes made re other players - you acknowledge it - get everyone into a room, talk about it, clear the air and remind these guys that we are a FOOTY CLUB, a once great club, now apparently focused on drama and dirty laundry. You get on the same page about trying to snag a flag next year. If Trac and Carry are on the park, and we can somehow, perhaps through prayer lol, convince some talent to join us and fill a couple of gaps, we have enough talent to do some damage next year. 

BUT - everyone has to be on the same page. Clear the air. Put the mistakes behind us. Learn. FOCUS on what is needed to correct course next year. No more silly emails. Just good footy. 

I want Clarry in the red and blue next year. He needs help to focus. I get it. If there was an offer of 2 first rounders, or 1 first rounder and a solid player, fine. Maybe you say ok we cut our losses. But that ain't the case. Dropping Clarry for nothing at all, just to 'save cap space' and a future F1, for the Cats, will be late teens if we're lucky. Pointless. Meanwhile the Cats do what we should have done/do, sort Clarry out, and he helps them to win another flag next year.

Stuff that. Let's fix this. Shake hands. Build together. Snag a flag. 

#SnagAFlag

So if last year was his final warning and he’s broken there trust again you want to give him another chance just because. Sounds like the kind of poor culture that has got us in this position to start with 

[Dockett 32 1,239]

So it’s suggested that the net effect is we pay 700/800k pa for seven years to deal with a current problem child?

Bloody hell! 

How does that help us again?

I realise that we are wedged, but those who created the problem need to own it and fix the problem child.  

Getting walked over as proposed , the old quick and easy cut and run , simply makes things worse for a very long time.

 

 

 

 

[BDA 22,543]

While Clarry was delivering on his $1m contract we were happy to babysit him and put up with his behavioural issues.

now that he’s produced a season and a half of injury and underperformance we’ve decided he’s not worth it.

why oh why did we give him a monster contract. Massive list mgt fail. 

[Dr. Gonzo 24,066]

3 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

What a disgusting mismanagement of a HUMAN BEING!

As I said yesterday, you cannot use Clarry as a pawn in some sick game to make yourself appear to be fixing our culture. 
You are dealing with someone who loves and is committed to this club, or at least was, who is struggling with his mental health. You play with him, saying we want you, while also shopping him around, deluded to think he won’t find out. 
His management team, the same team who manages one C Petracca, must be shaking their head in disgusting.

And all the while, you wonder why nobody wants to come to this club, or why our culture stinks. This is why it stinks. You can trade away 1, 10, 44 players, but if the clowns running this circus remain, then guess what? The culture will continue to stink! 

Spot on the money Jaded. I don't know if it's Pert, Green, the Board, Richo, Goodwin, Lamb but the senior leaders at the club are responsible for the culture and they have let the club, it's supporters and players down big time. A clean slate is needed, the leadership/culture at the club is toxic.

[BangBnagBang 634]

 

2 hours ago, Tracca said:

Hang on a sec…..

where did you hear we did the call around? That is all driven from the media. There is zero chance Gary pert called anyone about list management decisions.

Pert is on the list management committee. He sits in the weekly meetings. So what if he rings another contact at another club. Maybe he has a better relationship with them compared to Lamb. Maybe he rang Ned Kelly cause the Pies don’t have a footy manager currently. I've never seen something so over blown than the blow up over Pert contacting another club.

[daisycutter 29,555]

2 minutes ago, BDA said:

While Clarry was delivering on his $1m contract we were happy to babysit him and put up with his behavioural issues.

now that he’s produced a season and a half of injury and underperformance we’ve decided he’s not worth it.

why oh why did we give him a monster contract. Massive list mgt fail. 

huh?  pert: best culture he'd ever seen 😁

[Adam The God 29,832]

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Genuine laughing stock we are.

Can't wait to go through another year of Clayton Oliver distraction and noise. Which player is on baby sitting duties next year? 

But you do you Melbourne. 

Maybe it's Chocco? He did babysit that other fellow that ended up winning 3 flags for Richmond.