5 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I assume you mean "not purely profit focused".

Having said that, I disagree with your points that the AFL has regressed and that the pursuit of profit is compromising the quality of the product. It's a necessarily evil that if we want the best product we need to have the revenues to pay the players, the coaches, the support staff and to have great facilities to attend games.

Sadly you may be right. But I recall being just as passionate and interested in games when it was just a bunch of part-timers playing in the 60's.

1 hour ago, Dees1911 said:

Maybe as a Captain and leader of a football club you shouldn't be taken an in season meeting with another coach !!!

And if you do, you have to expect the scrutiny, if & when you get caught !!

This was my initial reaction and still somewhat aligned to it. However, this is their workplace and i think everybody has a right to chose their workplace.

The media have been far too aggressive in the past few years especially post covid and you have the personalities such as Morris, McClure, Corners, Barret who are disrespectful and at times stoop to gutter trash levels of reporting.

As a society we have to recognize the impact that social media is having of people, footy players are no different. The AFL should absolutely be looking at the behavior of some of these journos and their employers and asking for a please explain.

The AFL should have oversight, not just compliant Clubs. What happened about the Guns? What happened about the ongoing Race Relations? And what is happening about Rules for all clubs not just the favourites?

i wonder if Jake Nial's piece today on the failed Oliver trade and then the news that Oliver will not play have any connection. Jake is not the first person that comes to mind when you talk about poor journo's but i find it really tough to believe this is a sheer coincidence.

I cant see the MFC pulling Oliver from the team as a result of this story. Which begs the question that TheAge chose to run with this story knowing he was going to be 'managed' this week. You wont be able to prove it, but i genuinely wonder whether there are any credible, ethical and moral journo's actually left in the AFL industry.

@GS_1905 This was a drivel story from Jake and really undone by it's own use of stats, Oliver has clearly improved on his '24 season averages, and has been in a a 2-5 team this yer as against the salad days of 21/22/23. In answer to your question about journalist ethics. I really think some lobby for a trade that does their mates/clubs a favour in these type of articles, not just reporting the facts.

The Geelong trade was awful - really I would rather Oliver sat on the pine than pay for him to play for Geelong or get a really average draft pick for a player that over the journey has been phenomenal.

King and Co are saying he is done, pffft, we need a much larger sample size, Oliver has plenty left and I think this handball focused gameplan suits him to a tee. I would like to see his tackle numbers go up though.

He copped a leg injury last week, I see no reason not to manage a player or two against WCE on what is a big hard ground.

3 hours ago, Willmoy1947 said:

The AFL should have oversight, not just compliant Clubs. What happened about the Guns? What happened about the ongoing Race Relations? And what is happening about Rules for all clubs not just the favourites?

Tonight I got barred from AFL WEB SIGHT, unless it's down

His article is all over the place. He talks about his diminishing output and how we'd now be lucky to offload half of his contract but in a Geelong jumper he'd be the next Greg Williams with years of decent football ahead of him. Couldn't end the article without reminding us of the BP5 and JS sagas of course. What a fruit loop.

Edited May 1May 1 by Rab D Nesbitt

https://t.co/Fg9Ot8kDRW

Adding Niall to the list of gutter scrapping journalists. We know the story. Let’s get Clarry the support he needs. He’s a champion. He helped us win a premiership. Let’s support him through tough times. This article doesn’t help. It’s another “aren’t the Cats wonderful “ story. Ffs.

Was it just me or was the commentary in the Eagles game disgustingly biased??? To the point of trying to get melksham rubbed out??? Get stuffed.

4 minutes ago, biggestred said:

Was it just me or was the commentary in the Eagles game disgustingly biased??? To the point of trying to get melksham rubbed out??? Get stuffed.

I’ve never heard such biased commentary.

Trying to get milk rubbed out, but excusing a whack on Viney, trying to suggest Windsor ran too far when he kicked an absolutely incredible goal.

On the footy show this morning they bought up the melksham incident.

Matty Lloyd just said straight away he had his eyes on the ball to mark it & you can use your elbow to push your opponent under the ball

17 hours ago, Stinger said:

I’ve never heard such biased commentary.

Trying to get milk rubbed out, but excusing a whack on Viney, trying to suggest Windsor ran too far when he kicked an absolutely incredible goal.

Schofield who I generally like, was appalling with his biased special comments.

The only thing he didn’t say was “ boo Dees and go Eagles”.

He was terrible.

20 hours ago, Redleg said:

Schofield who I generally like, was appalling with his biased special comments.

The only thing he didn’t say was “ boo Dees and go Eagles”.

He was terrible.

It is as simple as this, ex players should not commentate on games their ex team is playing.

7 minutes ago, AzzKikA said:

It is as simple as this, ex players should not commentate on games their ex team is playing.

Clearly you don't work at Channel 7. They take the opposite view.

I'm not fussed - good commentators will always be good; poor commentators will always be poor. It doesn't matter which games they call.

Not too many games go by these days that I haven’t muted the tv by half time.

Gerard Healy thinks Melk should have been suspended.

18 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Gerard Healy thinks Melk should have been suspended.

Gerard hasn't recovered from leaving Melbourne and then playing for the swans in the Semi Final in 87 against us only to get totally pantsed. He likes the sound of his own voice, I'm yet to meet a good bloke who suffers from this affliction. In short, he's a [censored]

Gerard Healy 💩💩💩💩💩💩still as arrogant as he was when he took the $$$ and walked out of the Dees to go to Sydney

Clayton Oliver’s future examined: The reduced price, what the Cats could offer, and the lurking Saints

Clayton Oliver would be looking at the Cats wondering what could have been, writes Jay Clark. Now, the Demon is at risk of falling by the wayside if he can’t find a suitor, but what would he cost?

Jay ClarkChief Football Writer

Follow

@ClarkyHeraldSun

By JAY CLARK 💩💩💩💩

“Clayton Oliver would look over the fence at what could have been.

The fresh start at Geelong. The chance for more premiership success. The renewal and resurrection of Bailey Smith.

There was a belief last year that Oliver was the missing link in the Cats’ premiership quest this season alongside Smith, but now he is in danger of falling by the wayside at the Demons in their push into a new era.

One of the best ballwinners in the game a few years ago has polled only one AFL Coaches Association vote, averaging 28 touches and seven clearances across seven matches in 2025.

The coaches’ trophy is an award he has won twice, but Oliver’s drop-off over the past 24 months is as steep as anyone’s in the game.

And for this once blistering onballer, the slow walk towards what feels like another inevitable trade request has taken its toll on the player, as much as everyone at Melbourne has lauded his commitment and involvement over the past year.

Oliver, 29, is a much better teammate, the Demons all say, after some serious talks and guidance in recent years, and captain Max Gawn deserves much of the credit for helping keep his mate on track.

They play chess before games and on Monday night had a sauna together at Gawn’s house, the skipper said.

And while the club is adamant Christian Petracca is staying, the door is clearly more open on Oliver and the prospect of off-loading his $1.2 million-a-year salary for a key forward in the exchange period.

But as things stand, the Dees would be lucky to get even one first-rounder for Oliver, as that ship may have sailed – unfortunately for everyone – last year.

It is no secret that when Oliver travelled down the highway to Rhys Stanley’s farm last year after Melbourne dangled him as trade bait, the midfielder saw, and wanted, a future down the coast.

But now he is stuck, to a degree, as harsh as it sounds.

Or at least he could be stuck, pending how hard Melbourne is prepared to keep him at the club for next season, and how much of his bumper wage the Demons would be willing to pay to send him to Geelong in return for a middling draft pick.

At the heart of any Oliver trade is an important sliding scale.

The more of his wage the Demons are willing to pay, the better the draft return they would expect from the Cats.

If the Demons don’t pay any of his seven-figure wage, the Cats would likely either reject the deal entirely, or offer up a late pick in the draft to absorb all of his money.

And the Cats might have the most disciplined pay structure in the game, meaning if Melbourne are at all interested in off-loading Oliver they will likely have to chip in several hundreds of thousands of dollars at least, like Collingwood did on Adam Treloar.

The dump kick at Melbourne is ineffective and out under the “new way” to play under Simon Goodwin. Precise ball use is king in 2025.

That hurts Oliver’s style and role, and he remains no certainty to stay in the senior side this year as first-year jet Harvey Langford’s growth continues.

He’s the future, clearly, Langford.

And the club has re-signed hard nut Jack Viney for four years, so he is locked in.

Oliver is the expendable one.

There is a real prospect Oliver may not keep his spot this year pending his form and it would be difficult for a four-time best-and-fairest winner to head out to suburban grounds in the VFL in his prime.

If that does happen this year, the shoulders will slump and trade regret will hit overdrive as the Cats hunt another top-four berth.

Oliver missed the trip west to play West Coast on Saturday night as part of a mental health break, but is expected to return to training on Tuesday and play this weekend after a breather.

The mature way the Demons and Oliver have handled his time off last week is to their credit.

But Oliver’s future is clouded, and there is a chance, too, he is stuck now.

At least this trade period, the clubs will have had time to thrash out a deal, and that work will ramp up now, if in fact Geelong still wants him”.

3 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

By JAY CLARK 💩💩💩💩

“Clayton Oliver would look over the fence at what could have been.

The fresh start at Geelong. The chance for more premiership success. The renewal and resurrection of Bailey Smith.

There was a belief last year that Oliver was the missing link in the Cats’ premiership quest this season alongside Smith, but now he is in danger of falling by the wayside at the Demons in their push into a new era.

One of the best ballwinners in the game a few years ago has polled only one AFL Coaches Association vote, averaging 28 touches and seven clearances across seven matches in 2025.

The coaches’ trophy is an award he has won twice, but Oliver’s drop-off over the past 24 months is as steep as anyone’s in the game.

And for this once blistering onballer, the slow walk towards what feels like another inevitable trade request has taken its toll on the player, as much as everyone at Melbourne has lauded his commitment and involvement over the past year.

Oliver, 29, is a much better teammate, the Demons all say, after some serious talks and guidance in recent years, and captain Max Gawn deserves much of the credit for helping keep his mate on track.

They play chess before games and on Monday night had a sauna together at Gawn’s house, the skipper said.

And while the club is adamant Christian Petracca is staying, the door is clearly more open on Oliver and the prospect of off-loading his $1.2 million-a-year salary for a key forward in the exchange period.

But as things stand, the Dees would be lucky to get even one first-rounder for Oliver, as that ship may have sailed – unfortunately for everyone – last year.

It is no secret that when Oliver travelled down the highway to Rhys Stanley’s farm last year after Melbourne dangled him as trade bait, the midfielder saw, and wanted, a future down the coast.

But now he is stuck, to a degree, as harsh as it sounds.

Or at least he could be stuck, pending how hard Melbourne is prepared to keep him at the club for next season, and how much of his bumper wage the Demons would be willing to pay to send him to Geelong in return for a middling draft pick.

At the heart of any Oliver trade is an important sliding scale.

The more of his wage the Demons are willing to pay, the better the draft return they would expect from the Cats.

If the Demons don’t pay any of his seven-figure wage, the Cats would likely either reject the deal entirely, or offer up a late pick in the draft to absorb all of his money.

And the Cats might have the most disciplined pay structure in the game, meaning if Melbourne are at all interested in off-loading Oliver they will likely have to chip in several hundreds of thousands of dollars at least, like Collingwood did on Adam Treloar.

The dump kick at Melbourne is ineffective and out under the “new way” to play under Simon Goodwin. Precise ball use is king in 2025.

That hurts Oliver’s style and role, and he remains no certainty to stay in the senior side this year as first-year jet Harvey Langford’s growth continues.

He’s the future, clearly, Langford.

And the club has re-signed hard nut Jack Viney for four years, so he is locked in.

Oliver is the expendable one.

There is a real prospect Oliver may not keep his spot this year pending his form and it would be difficult for a four-time best-and-fairest winner to head out to suburban grounds in the VFL in his prime.

If that does happen this year, the shoulders will slump and trade regret will hit overdrive as the Cats hunt another top-four berth.

Oliver missed the trip west to play West Coast on Saturday night as part of a mental health break, but is expected to return to training on Tuesday and play this weekend after a breather.

The mature way the Demons and Oliver have handled his time off last week is to their credit.

But Oliver’s future is clouded, and there is a chance, too, he is stuck now.

At least this trade period, the clubs will have had time to thrash out a deal, and that work will ramp up now, if in fact Geelong still wants him”.

It's incredible that when Robbo retired his successor was forced to undertake his writing style.

3 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

By JAY CLARK 💩💩💩💩

“Clayton Oliver would look over the fence at what could have been.

The fresh start at Geelong. The chance for more premiership success. The renewal and resurrection of Bailey Smith.

There was a belief last year that Oliver was the missing link in the Cats’ premiership quest this season alongside Smith, but now he is in danger of falling by the wayside at the Demons in their push into a new era.

One of the best ballwinners in the game a few years ago has polled only one AFL Coaches Association vote, averaging 28 touches and seven clearances across seven matches in 2025.

The coaches’ trophy is an award he has won twice, but Oliver’s drop-off over the past 24 months is as steep as anyone’s in the game.

And for this once blistering onballer, the slow walk towards what feels like another inevitable trade request has taken its toll on the player, as much as everyone at Melbourne has lauded his commitment and involvement over the past year.

Oliver, 29, is a much better teammate, the Demons all say, after some serious talks and guidance in recent years, and captain Max Gawn deserves much of the credit for helping keep his mate on track.

They play chess before games and on Monday night had a sauna together at Gawn’s house, the skipper said.

And while the club is adamant Christian Petracca is staying, the door is clearly more open on Oliver and the prospect of off-loading his $1.2 million-a-year salary for a key forward in the exchange period.

But as things stand, the Dees would be lucky to get even one first-rounder for Oliver, as that ship may have sailed – unfortunately for everyone – last year.

It is no secret that when Oliver travelled down the highway to Rhys Stanley’s farm last year after Melbourne dangled him as trade bait, the midfielder saw, and wanted, a future down the coast.

But now he is stuck, to a degree, as harsh as it sounds.

Or at least he could be stuck, pending how hard Melbourne is prepared to keep him at the club for next season, and how much of his bumper wage the Demons would be willing to pay to send him to Geelong in return for a middling draft pick.

At the heart of any Oliver trade is an important sliding scale.

The more of his wage the Demons are willing to pay, the better the draft return they would expect from the Cats.

If the Demons don’t pay any of his seven-figure wage, the Cats would likely either reject the deal entirely, or offer up a late pick in the draft to absorb all of his money.

And the Cats might have the most disciplined pay structure in the game, meaning if Melbourne are at all interested in off-loading Oliver they will likely have to chip in several hundreds of thousands of dollars at least, like Collingwood did on Adam Treloar.

The dump kick at Melbourne is ineffective and out under the “new way” to play under Simon Goodwin. Precise ball use is king in 2025.

That hurts Oliver’s style and role, and he remains no certainty to stay in the senior side this year as first-year jet Harvey Langford’s growth continues.

He’s the future, clearly, Langford.

And the club has re-signed hard nut Jack Viney for four years, so he is locked in.

Oliver is the expendable one.

There is a real prospect Oliver may not keep his spot this year pending his form and it would be difficult for a four-time best-and-fairest winner to head out to suburban grounds in the VFL in his prime.

If that does happen this year, the shoulders will slump and trade regret will hit overdrive as the Cats hunt another top-four berth.

Oliver missed the trip west to play West Coast on Saturday night as part of a mental health break, but is expected to return to training on Tuesday and play this weekend after a breather.

The mature way the Demons and Oliver have handled his time off last week is to their credit.

But Oliver’s future is clouded, and there is a chance, too, he is stuck now.

At least this trade period, the clubs will have had time to thrash out a deal, and that work will ramp up now, if in fact Geelong still wants him”.

Content aside, Jay Clark is a very poor writer.

15 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Oliver, 29, is a much better teammate,

27

since when did sports "journos" start to manage the movement of players

they go way beyond the facts and widely speculate, using players and clubs like some obscene game of chess

the afl need to put a stop to it or at least tone it down ... of course they won't

the pressure they add to these vulnerable targets is palpable

oh what a game! ... not

20 minutes ago, KozzyCan said:

It's incredible that when Robbo retired his successor was forced to undertake his writing style.

i was thinking the same thing

or, to put it in a phrase slobbster / jay might understand

"it's difficult to understand, this, how english language, mangled"

Edited May 5May 5 by whatwhat say what