Clayton Oliver, a four-time best and fairest winner at the club, has navigated a challenging period over the past two years, marked by injuries and personal issues, but has demonstrated promising signs suggesting a return to his optimal form in 2025. He is presently contracted to the club for an additional five years, with a substantial annual salary of approximately $1.7 million in the final seasons of his agreement. All at Melbourne are eagerly anticipating his resurgence to his previous peak performance levels. 

Date of Birth: 22 July 1997

Height: 189cm

Games MFC 2025: 22

Career Total: 205

Goals MFC 2025: 4

Career Total: 58

Melbourne Football Club: 7th Best & Fairest: 353 votes

I can’t believe a player of his talent didn’t get one Brownlow vote for the season.

He even got a couple last year off the back of a 3 week pre season.

He's going to have a monster 2026 - bookmark it!

I’m always a staunch defender of Clarry—and believe me, I know that I have a bit of a bias. He has been nowhere near his best the past few seasons—but I have a lot of hope that without dangling him for trade as we did 2 years running and letting him stay focused during the off season, we will see a better version of him in 2026. My hope is he gets back to his best—but if he gets even near it we’ll be better off for it.

I also think we’ve seen a more mature Clarry this year. Say what you will, but there haven’t been any (at least publicised) incidents in well over a year. He took a week off for his mental health this season which in my view shows this maturity—although he probably never will again after the negative press he got. Additionally, putting a statement out via his agent that he’s not going anywhere (even if he may not have had any options) is something we didn’t see before.

Anyway, I have hopes for him in 2026. We saw flashes at the end of 2025.

Edited Monday at 21:521 day by 710 Asbury St

I watched the first quarter of the greatest game ever played (21 GF) and reminded myself of what he can be.

I would just love to see him get back to that form again - so relentless, so clean, so powerful. Let's all hope for it.

Must improve his disposal by hand & foot if he wants to stay relevant in the modern game.

i honestly thought he was going to go down in history as one of the greatest mfc players and absolutely our best midfielder of all time

what's happened to him since 2022 is just terrible to have seen unfold

5 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

i honestly thought he was going to go down in history as one of the greatest mfc players and absolutely our best midfielder of all time

what's happened to him since 2022 is just terrible to have seen unfold

It’s all over for him, is it? Can still happen

I've been a huge fan but you cannot convince me he now prepares to the same level as even up to 2023. I hope he gets his fitness and prep right for 2026 but like Trac he's dropped off significantly. being a top 5 paid player in the league leaves us hamstrung unfortunately. and appears untradeable.

I might be delusional but I am still a believer

Become a bog-average midfielder. Can't crash through contests and rip the ball out of stoppage anymore, doesn't have the fast hands to get the ball to the outside, lost a more than a yard of pace. Looks like he's lost the hunger. It's been a steep fall from grace.

I've seen some say that his fitness fell away so far that it will take another pre-season to get back but I'm sorry that's not good enough. When he arrived at the club he was overweight and didn't really take training seriously. By his second year he was one of the best players in the comp.

2 hours ago, jumbo returns said:

He's going to have a monster 2026 - bookmark it!

Double down on that expectation

I am so excited to see 2026 Clarry under King, and possibly without Trac.

4 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

i honestly thought he was going to go down in history as one of the greatest mfc players and absolutely our best midfielder of all time

what's happened to him since 2022 is just terrible to have seen unfold

I think he has already shown himself to be one of our greatest players of all time even if he retired now.

He will get back to his scintillating best in 26. Started to show it towards the end of season.

3 hours ago, KozzyCan said:

Become a bog-average midfielder. Can't crash through contests and rip the ball out of stoppage anymore, doesn't have the fast hands to get the ball to the outside, lost a more than a yard of pace. Looks like he's lost the hunger. It's been a steep fall from grace.

I've seen some say that his fitness fell away so far that it will take another pre-season to get back but I'm sorry that's not good enough. When he arrived at the club he was overweight and didn't really take training seriously. By his second year he was one of the best players in the comp.

Clarry tries so hard each and every match. Plays his guts out..he certainly hasn't lost his hunger. Have faith in a champion.

1 minute ago, Bobby McKenzie 2 said:

Clarry tries so hard each and every match. Plays his guts out..he certainly hasn't lost his hunger. Have faith in a champion.

He's not the manic dog-hungry player he once was.

9 hours ago, Bobby McKenzie 2 said:

Clarry tries so hard each and every match. Plays his guts out..he certainly hasn't lost his hunger. Have faith in a champion.

One thing I noticed in one of the later games this season—and it had to have been an away game because I was watching on TV—was that he was running full on with the ball and had this HUGE smile on his face. Like the kind if you’re on a motorbike you’re picking the bugs out of your teeth kind of smile. It looked like pure joy. And honestly, I know he makes a ton of money, so loving what he does isn’t required, but when you love your job and the people you’re with, you perform better. So, I’m looking forward to 2026.

No trac to take votes away and Clarry back to his best? 2026 brownlow incoming! What a story that would be.

20 hours ago, Bobby McKenzie 2 said:

Clarry tries so hard each and every match. Plays his guts out..he certainly hasn't lost his hunger. Have faith in a champion.

Spot on, Bobby. People seem to forget this quality of Clarrie’s. Their memory banks are brimful of the transgressions and there’s no room left for who Clarrie really is. His hunger has NEVER waned, even through the bad times. It’s in his DNA. Just because it may’ve seemed at times he’d lost it, doesn’t mean he had/has. One of the many things I love about Clarrie is his honesty, he couldn’t lie if his life depended on it. Therefore when he tells me he’s as determined as ever to be the best he can and this has ALWAYS been the case, I believe it.

Heart and soul ❤️

Imperfect, sure - as we all are. He's been one of the greatest players of the last decade while growing up in front of thousands every week. Some take longer than others. But I know he tries his guts out every week, you can see it. This was a transition year from a tumultuous period. The bridge from his past to his future. Another solid preseason and Clarry will be an absolute beast in 2026. And I have a feeling without Trac, he will shine even more.

Sam above says Brownlow 2026. Definitely possible, what a great story.

All in on Clarry 2026.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Red But Mostly Blue

15 hours ago, 710 Asbury St said:

One thing I noticed in one of the later games this season—and it had to have been an away game because I was watching on TV—was that he was running full on with the ball and had this HUGE smile on his face. Like the kind if you’re on a motorbike you’re picking the bugs out of your teeth kind of smile. It looked like pure joy. And honestly, I know he makes a ton of money, so loving what he does isn’t required, but when you love your job and the people you’re with, you perform better. So, I’m looking forward to 2026.

I reckon I noticed the same thing. It was the first time I had noticed a bit of "fun" about his play. Even to the extent his disposal improved ( indicating his fitness improved enough to give him "time"as well as his "clearance efforts"

Looking forward to the rest of his career at Melbourne.