5 hours ago, Bay Riffin said:

thats a good point. We would be well under our cap presently, so for next year it would be in our interests to rewrite our part of the contract to front load the payments to Oliver. which he would agree to. It may not be allowed though.

Agree

For the crappy pick we got for him and considering we are paying part of his wage. I hope we don't end up getting EGG on our faces. Personally I wouldn't let him go for nix. Let him take a paycut if he wanted out so badly.

11 minutes ago, Coolx2 said:

For the crappy pick we got for him and considering we are paying part of his wage. I hope we don't end up getting EGG on our faces. Personally I wouldn't let him go for nix. Let him take a paycut if he wanted out so badly.

I think we almost certainly end up with egg on face re him playing great football … at least in 2026. That still doesn’t mean it was the wrong call imo.

19 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

I think we almost certainly end up with egg on face re him playing great football … at least in 2026. That still doesn’t mean it was the wrong call imo.

disagree. he recovered from injury 2024 then had a full preseason, then played all year without major injuries, and was bog average in a lot of games. i thought his 7th placing in the B&F flattered him. you cannot convince me he prepared off field like he did prior to 2023. noone was going to pay anything decent to take him.

36 minutes ago, Coolx2 said:

For the crappy pick we got for him and considering we are paying part of his wage. I hope we don't end up getting EGG on our faces. Personally I wouldn't let him go for nix. Let him take a paycut if he wanted out so badly.

The benefits of moving him on with us paying part of his salary, far outweigh the potential benefits of him staying and both Oliver and the MFC not finding him a new home.

Even if he returns to his BnF and AA output, this was far bigger than that.

Regardless if he has an outstanding year or not, we made the right call. The controversy surrounding him year after year is just too draining for the club. For years we have just allowed Goodwin to play favourites and no one driving a harder stance for professionalism and improvement.

A new change of scenery is what was neeeded for both Clarry, and a fresh start and new path way for the Melbourne Football Club.

Supporters are forgetting, we had both Trac and Clarry playing for us and we have been bottoming out every year. Regardless of his output next year, he needed to go so we can reset and play a different faster, more outside game style that is suited for the modern game.

1 hour ago, Coolx2 said:

For the crappy pick we got for him and considering we are paying part of his wage. I hope we don't end up getting EGG on our faces. Personally I wouldn't let him go for nix. Let him take a paycut if he wanted out so badly.

We really need to look at the Oliver trade on a net net basis.

We got Steele at a cheap rate, the difference between his output and Olivers, the lack of distraction, leadership etc.

Net net we're even maybe slightly behind on Olivers present output - well behind if Oliver gets back to his 21 form

7 hours ago, Demon_JB said:

Regardless if he has an outstanding year or not, we made the right call. The controversy surrounding him year after year is just too draining for the club. For years we have just allowed Goodwin to play favourites and no one driving a harder stance for professionalism and improvement.

A new change of scenery is what was neeeded for both Clarry, and a fresh start and new path way for the Melbourne Football Club.

Supporters are forgetting, we had both Trac and Clarry playing for us and we have been bottoming out every year. Regardless of his output next year, he needed to go so we can reset and play a different faster, more outside game style that is suited for the modern game.

If you ain't got the ball, it doesn't matter if you're playing inside or outside

Needs to kick more goals to be considered an elite midfielder- even just 10 a year would be great. A Clayton Oliver goal is an event rather than a pattern.

The fact that I can distinctly remember all of his 4 goals for the year (Nth, Syd, Bris, hawks games) speaks volumes.

And this is why I always preferred Trac over Clarry and why I’m far more disappointed that the former has departed.

Really interested to see how the rest of his career pans out.

Knowing Clarry the way i think i do, he’ll get super fit, be super motivated & he’ll play good footy next year.

He won’t be needed to be the star like Melbourne needed him to be. This surely frees him up?.

But if so, for how long? Will he back it up in 27’ 28’? Or does the baggage of the past take another stranglehold over his career?

It really could go any way.

But good luck to him.

On 25/10/2025 at 18:32, rpfc said:

Well yes, something to root for

In all seriousness - who are we paying right now? Gotta pay someone - may as well be Oliver. I just hope we front load the payment somewhat

Don't forget we are paying Gus until the end of 2028.

1 hour ago, M_9 said:

Don't forget we are paying Gus until the end of 2028.

Yep.

Come 2030 we will have so much cap space

Look

Out

I get the sense there's a fair bit of hostility by some players towards the club

A few have moved on.

They were paid exceedingly well so I don't get it.

Of course we don't know what's going on but I do know if a player is unhappy it's best to get rid of them ASAP.

It's an honour and privilege to play for the greatest club in the world.

I'm not singling anyone out but we certainly need as much harmony and happiness amongst the playing group.

A happy team plays so much better.

At least we know it'll be us punching him in the guts constantly and getting away with it. Won't we?

20 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Needs to kick more goals to be considered an elite midfielder- even just 10 a year would be great. A Clayton Oliver goal is an event rather than a pattern.

The fact that I can distinctly remember all of his 4 goals for the year (Nth, Syd, Bris, hawks games) speaks volumes.

And this is why I always preferred Trac over Clarry and why I’m far more disappointed that the former has departed.

Agree totally, a midfield great like a Buckley or Voss would be banging them through from anywhere and everywhere. With clarry it was a big deal unfortunately.

A bloke I know sat next to a very close associate of Clarry yesterday (Cup function). May be a player manager. Said the Dees had done the right thing. CO very bad for the culture, took up far too much time and resources, doesn't listen to anyone, and does what he wants.

9 hours ago, M_9 said:

A bloke I know sat next to a very close associate of Clarry yesterday (Cup function). May be a player manager. Said the Dees had done the right thing. CO very bad for the culture, took up far too much time and resources, doesn't listen to anyone, and does what he wants.

It will be interesting to see how his new club manages him.

Some clubs had difficulty with Hogan but I think he went ok last season.

Clarey’s exit is on Clarry. He made choices that spoiled his elite game and rendered him a shadow of the player he was. All on the back of a huge paycheck and deal from the MFC.

I loved him in his prime, and wish him well. But his fall is his, not the clubs.

Wish him well but I had to take him off my key ring.

He’s on my 2020 jersey and I’m not taking the number off as it’s also for jako

It’ll just have to be my running Lennox point jersey

I’m in a real fn conundrum now though as I have 3xpremiers logo jerseys and don’t know what number to put on

Think they’ll all have to be number 10 and number 2 (for RF)

I still have and treasure a signed guernsey and his photos remain on display in my office. I will never forget how great he was and even though it would be for GWS I hope he gets it back.

Just a reminder to all that political talk is forbidden

On 03/11/2025 at 11:57, Demon_JB said:

Regardless if he has an outstanding year or not, we made the right call. The controversy surrounding him year after year is just too draining for the club. For years we have just allowed Goodwin to play favourites and no one driving a harder stance for professionalism and improvement.

A new change of scenery is what was neeeded for both Clarry, and a fresh start and new path way for the Melbourne Football Club.

Supporters are forgetting, we had both Trac and Clarry playing for us and we have been bottoming out every year. Regardless of his output next year, he needed to go so we can reset and play a different faster, more outside game style that is suited for the modern game.

Yep, that's where I've landed.

And I'll think the same even if claz gets back to his very best next season, which I sincerely hope he does.

By the by, if claz does in fact get back to his AA best that won't mean the call to trade him was wrong. There would be no way of knowing if that would have been possible if he had remained at the dees.

Perhaps rhe only way he gets back to his best is by a new environment amd the motivation to prove the dees wrong.

Love Clarry but the right call has been made. Hope he has a great season.

Just remember he didnt want to go, unlike the other fella.

Correct decision has been made.

I am just grateful he didn't end up at Geelong, that would have the bitterest of pills.

I won't begrudge him a flag at the Giants. Go well Clarry.