26 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Very interesting... you've gone to town and back defending Oliver , which is your privilege.

You then offer up this morsel.

The application of this tenet when discussing Oliver's actions to his mates, rest of team , indeed tge club as a whole might of itself be the best example, if not definition , of IRONY I've come across for some time.

Thankyou

You're proving my point: unless you provide receipts and evidence instead of merely insinuating this as proof, then you're perpetuating the problem. It's such a lazy ad hominem attack on a player at best, feeding the MFC's toxic culture at worst. Admins warned about this type of rhetoric on this board as recently as yesterday.

At least he's not going to Collingwood. That would have broken me completely.

I think it doesn't matter how you feel about Clarry as a player or a person, it's totally valid to feel sad that the career of someone who was an out and out champion for this club, is ending elsewhere and that he's leaving the club on such a sour note, and for very little return.

He, the club and the fans all deserve better than this ending

Peter Ryan “Clayton Oliver wants to become a Giant. Negotiations will be interesting as Giants expect Melbourne to pay significant portion of contract. Dees' enthusiasm will be determined by draft haul coming back.”

What will the Dees ask for ?

A future 2026 GWS 1st rounder ??

14 hours ago, Very Jaded said:

I know many here won’t agree but I’m very broken hearted about this one

Clarry holds a special place in my heart and I am incredibly sad that he won’t finish his career in red and blue

He isn’t perfect, in fact he’s a mess, but he’s our mess and I will always support him

I hope he is happy and healthy

Business aside, it's horrible.

I'm still finding the 4 year gap since one of the best nights of our lives too short. Would have loved Trac and Oliver to go into their 30s at very least before anything like this came up.

The saving grace is that they are both going to synthetic, teflon clubs.

Oliver 2016 - 2022 - One of the best players in the comp, possibly ever.

Oliver 2023-2025 - By his exceptional standards, very poor.

Only the Club knows the full issues with Clayton, what they have had to put up with and what impact he's had on the Club and the players around him. I have no doubt that it got to the point where enough was enough, and therefore the Club, knowingly, gave Clarry a set of instructions about the Clubs future direction, and his role change as a result, which, as probably planned, caused Clarry to want out. The Club believes that this is the best move for the Club and its culture, and it could well be the making or breaking of Clarry - hopefully the former.

Any break-up is sad- made worse by the fact that he was a once in a generation player - but we are not a reform school, and there can only be one standard for every player at the Club - not one for the team and another for Clarry.

So many valid reasons to let him go - the head knows this.

But a number of emotional reasons to keep him - the heart wants what the heart wants.

Thankfully the Club has listened to its head rather than its heart

well, i hope we still applaud him when GWS come to town next year.

6 minutes ago, biggestred said:

well, i hope we still applaud him when GWS come to town next year.

I'll certainly never boo a premiership player. They gave me one of the greatest memories of my life.

You'd hope most supporters would be the same.

14 minutes ago, biggestred said:

well, i hope we still applaud him when GWS come to town next year.

Why ??

I won't boo him...but not likely to applaud the opposition either. Not just for the hell of it.

I'm sure he won't be offended.

17 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Why ??

I won't boo him...but not likely to applaud the opposition either. Not just for the hell of it.

I'm sure he won't be offended.

I definitely won’t be booing him. And obviously when Giants play us, I’ll be all about us winning. But, I tend to watch a lot of footy—probably way too much for someone who never liked sports—so I’ll definitely be tuning into GWS and 100% barracking for them in those instances. In regard to Clarry the person, I’ll always be hoping he finds happiness in his life. It’s just the Social Worker in me.

So you know, your posts in particular for some reason have given me some perspective and helped me move beyond the emotion of it all to a more logical approach. Initially, I wasn’t always sure how to take things you wrote, but after reading lots of them, I understood you to be balanced in your views. So, thank you for that.

Edited October 10Oct 10 by 710 Asbury St

I think it would be a pretty low move to boo Clarry or Trac. They gave us the best years of their careers and they got us a flag. We don't win it without them.

Judas however, deserves our boos.

2 minutes ago, Very Jaded said:

I think it would be a pretty low move to boo Clarry or Trac. They gave us the best years of their careers and they got us a flag. We don't win it without them.

Judas however, deserves our boos.

*Juddas

2 hours ago, Adina88 said:

If you want to believe Oliver is a no-good loser, you'll see evidence of it everywhere - even when there is evidence to the contrary. Ever noticed how Oliver has round bruise marks on his back and shoulders most weeks he plays? Ever noticed the weekly Instagram posts of Oliver doing hard-core pilates? Constant sign of cupping and fitness training and rehab, off the training track. If you never noticed that, then it's YOUR blind spot.

Those that continue to make unsubstantiated claims that insinuate Oliver has no professionalism, no fitness, doesn't rehab injuries, doesn't listen to coaches, is a constant distraction to others are just feeding an incessant rumour mill. It needs to stop. The first core value of MFC is 'Respect', which the club defines as 'Treating teammates, coaches, staff, members, and the broader community with dignity.' Worth remembering.

You are right, i think he absolutely tries, but his body is broke and i think no matter what he does, he will struggle to get back to the absolute ripping form he was in 2-3 years ago. I hope he can prove us wrong (sort of), but im pretty sure with Oliver, what you see on the field is what GWS can expect to get for the remainder of his contract.

3 minutes ago, Very Jaded said:

I think it would be a pretty low move to boo Clarry or Trac. They gave us the best years of their careers and they got us a flag. We don't win it without them.

Judas however, deserves our boos.

Oliver No.

Trac 100% absolutely deserves it. I held myself back booing him this year when he still played for us.

1 hour ago, Dee Boys said:

I'll certainly never boo a premiership player. They gave me one of the greatest memories of my life.

You'd hope most supporters would be the same.

I agree I would never boo Clarrie or Trac Sad that it has ended this way but I wish them all the best except when they play us. Still hoping club may say no to Trac deal I would think Trac would get over it and knuckle down. Wishful thinking of course he is probably off to Suns

On 08/10/2025 at 21:07, The end is nigh said:

Moreso than Jackson Wagner and McVee?

AND OMac!

On 08/10/2025 at 21:16, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

You nearly got me with your OMac edit but...

Yeah, nah.

I could cheer on OMac and Wagner against other teams, but only Freo, Jackson and Judd in extenuating circumstances like if they were playing Collingwood, Hawthorn or something.

I'm not much for hero's welcomes when an ex player comes back but honestly I would probably give these two the respect when they come back.

Maybe some applause after the game when they're walking off the ground, preferably after we win.

17 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

Oliver No.

Trac 100% absolutely deserves it. I held myself back booing him this year when he still played for us.

I'm a bit torn on this.

I get the past respect bit for Trac, but his primadonna behaviour in requesting a trade etc at the end of last season and this season has really lost me at the moment. If the trade doesn't get done, he's got a long way to win back my respect as a MFC supporter.

And I also agree that there were a number of moments in games this season where he looked disinterested and unwilling to do the team things like chasing and tackling. How he finished second in the B&F is beyond me.

1 hour ago, layzie said:

Business aside, it's horrible.

I'm still finding the 4 year gap since one of the best nights of our lives too short. Would have loved Trac and Oliver to go into their 30s at very least before anything like this came up.

The saving grace is that they are both going to synthetic, teflon clubs.

It's unfathomable it's come to this. It's not just on the players either, Goodwin has been sacked but this is a whole club meltdown for allowing it to happen.

40 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

Oliver No.

Trac 100% absolutely deserves it. I held myself back booing him this year when he still played for us.

Couldn't disagree more

15 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

It's unfathomable it's come to this. It's not just on the players either, Goodwin has been sacked but this is a whole club meltdown for allowing it to happen.

The way he's behaved in the past few days, I'd say most of the 'meltdown' has been on Clayton's behalf. I'm not going to point the finger at all of the cultural issues etc being at his feet, but his public media comments have been pretty unedifying. He's got to accept the responsibility for that.

I've got no idea of the full truth of the mather, but it sounds like the club may have been blunt and laid down the law to Clarry, but I think he owns the meltdown part of it.

I know it won't happen, but I'd happily accept a straight swap of Clarry for Jessie from GWS.

8 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

It's unfathomable it's come to this. It's not just on the players either, Goodwin has been sacked but this is a whole club meltdown for allowing it to happen.

This comment is not in relation to Oliver/Trac, but I do think some responsibility should be taken by club administration. There’s been a ton of unrest and no consistency at the CEO/Board/President level for quite awhile. I know that this may seem unrelated to team performance, but without consistency at the highest level, the impact will flow down. I’m not excusing anything or attempting to shift blame at all, but I truly believe it plays a big role in things. It’s a collective effort.

My job is in no way elite sports, but the level of chaos involved in a transition at the CEO/Board level does flow down significantly to people regardless of level.

Edited October 10Oct 10 by 710 Asbury St

Everyone bagging Oliver's kicking yet 2024 Queens Birthday he was the mid that kicked to marks for our first three goals. Lol.

3 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Peter Ryan “Clayton Oliver wants to become a Giant. Negotiations will be interesting as Giants expect Melbourne to pay significant portion of contract. Dees' enthusiasm will be determined by draft haul coming back.”

What will the Dees ask for ?

A future 2026 GWS 1st rounder ??

Pete, another stalwart MFC hater

12 hours ago, 58er said:

Your summarising as if it’s all totally Clarry’s fault we are down the ladder.

You fail to give him credit of stabilising his off field happiness and lift in the last few matches in form and confidence. I thought this was a good base to build upon with a new and positive vibing Coach that made all the right statements re our list etc. then has dragged out his whip and decided otherwise without a decent meeting with a Club Champion to give him an opportunity to state his case.

I am not against the restructuring of our midfield, 35% disposal from Trac Clarry and JV cannot continue to be tolerated but surely Clarry could kick 35/40/50 goals a year from a forward pocket or flank. And let’s be honest he would play 2 games at Casey be BOG and demand selection in the Seniors. Which position?

Wouldn’t King be tempted if we were 3 goals down at half time to throw Clarry on the Ball??

Guess what we get up and win and Clarry is back with little changing! Back up to forward pocket as a decoy and kick gatherer near the sticks.

Please tell me this isn’t an unreal prediction so he is not going to get any favors from our Footy chiefs and be sent to Siberia!!

Our No 1 or top 3 player in 50 years has been treated poorly in some respects. He is hurt again and no wonder is looking to go to GWS to a soulless crowd and finish his career.

Sad how he has been treated and we can’t even say good bye and thanks to him.

Hopefully I haven’t ignored his last 2/3 years but we should and have tried to nurture him and support him as well.

All the best Clarry you have set a benchmark in personal attitude to competitiveness on the field. I have never seen a player play the last quarters as hard as Clarry.

Please give him some respect And not replace No 13 this season until worthy recipient arises.

PS Maybe not Humphrey if we can snag him!

Good luck Clarry a decade of determination classic inside mid play and handballs that talked. Only real fault was your kicking but it still passed when your best was on display in our top 4 years and important games and Finals.

Keep healthy and happy and good luck for your future. Thanks again for the memories especially in 2021 and bang bang bang!!

Beautifully put 58er. You have summed up the Clarry situation perfectly. Thanks for your words.