Melbourne star Clayton Oliver has spoken out for the first time about his trade period saga, which saw him linked with a potential move to Geelong.
Despite the discussions, Oliver remains with the Demons and is now focused on making amends for what he described as "a stinker" of a season.
Stopped by reporters at the Caulfied Cup on Saturday, Oliver acknowledged that while he explored his options by meeting with Geelong, his future is firmly with Melbourne, and his focus is on helping the club return to finals contention in 2025.
"We're good, we're all sweet," Oliver said via Herald Sun about his current relationship with Melbourne.
"We've got โTrac' (Christian Petracca) coming back, he's the best player in the league โฆ he had a pretty big injury, and he is training hard."
Reflecting on the Demons' recent struggles, Oliver highlighted the team's challenges over the past two seasons, citing key injuries and his own form as contributing factors.
"We were there, but we fell short in 2022 and 2023. This year, โGussy' (Angus Brayshaw) retired, we had โTrac' injured, I had a stinker of a year, and โMaysey' (Steven May) was a little bit off."
Oliver, 27, admitted his form was well below his best this year, but he remains optimistic about the future, pointing to the return of a fit Petracca as a major boost for the team.
Petracca, who suffered a traumatic injury on King's Birthday, has been undergoing his typically rigorous training regimen overseas and is expected to be ready for the upcoming pre-season.
Asked about his meeting with Geelong during the trade period, Oliver played down the drama.
"It's all right โฆ I had a chat to people," he said.
But he insisted that Melbourne is in a strong position moving forward, adding, "Melbourne are looking good. We will have a big year."
The comments come after a tumultuous off-season, where speculation about Oliver's future intensified.
AFL reporter Sam McClure had reported that Oliver was keen to join Geelong, though Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb disputed the notion that Oliver was "desperate" to leave.
Lamb emphasised that the club had been in "constant contact" with Oliver, and he expects the midfielder to return to his best next season following a full pre-season.
Despite the speculation, Oliver remains a crucial part of Melbourne's future plans. Having signed a seven-year contract extension in 2022, the four-time Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy winner is determined to repay the faith shown in him by the club.
Melbourne's fortunes in 2025 will largely depend on the fitness of its star players, including Oliver and Petracca, as they aim to bounce back from missing finals in 2024.
With two top-10 draft picks and a renewed sense of purpose, the Demons are looking to recapture the form that led them to their 2021 premiership success.
