Melbourne Demons star Clayton Oliver is reportedly willing to accept a reduced salary if it would secure his move to the Geelong Cats.
Despite Melbourne's strong stance that the elite midfielder will stay, sources from Geelong and Oliver's management suggest the 27-year-old is determined to make the shift south.
Currently contracted to the Demons until 2030, Oliver's willingness to reduce his $1.3 million per year salary could make a transfer more feasible, particularly for the Cats' tight salary cap.
The Age's Sam McLure broke the development, with Geelong's renewed interest in Oliver coming amidst reports of a push from former player Shannon Byrnes, a Shepparton native and former player development manager at Melbourne who recently joined the Cats.
Byrnes reportedly has a close connection with Oliver from their time at Melbourne, adding fuel to the speculation around Oliver's future.
Despite persistent rumours, Melbourne's list manager Tim Lamb has repeatedly stated that Oliver will not be traded, reinforcing the club's commitment to its contracted players.
Speaking on AFL Trade Radio earlier this week, Lamb clarified, “There's been a lot of reporting about Clayton, which is unfortunate, but he has never been offered for trade, and he'll be playing for Melbourne.”
Similarly, interim president Brad Green was firm in his declaration at Melbourne's club awards last week, saying, “Come Round 1 next year... our midfield of [Max] Gawn, [Jack] Viney, [Clayton] Oliver, and [Christian] Petracca will be there in full force.”
The Cats' list manager Andrew Mackie also attempted to temper expectations, noting that their discussions with Oliver were “fleeting” and emphasising Geelong's respect for Melbourne's position.
“We are respectful of that. He's got six years to go on a contract. He's a Melbourne player,” Mackie said.
With Geelong still needing significant draft assets for other deals, particularly targeting Western Bulldogs' Bailey Smith, it remains unclear if Oliver's move will materialise.
Yet, given his recent discussions with Geelong players and his pay-cut offer, the speculation around Oliver's future is likely to continue as the AFL trade period advances.