Clayton Oliver reportedly willing to take pay cut to get a trade from Melbourne to Geelong

Melbourne star Clayton Oliver has reportedly told Geelong he would be willing to take a pay cut if it meant he could be traded to the club.

The Oliver saga started during the off-season in 2023, with a series of off-field issues flaring into talks he and the club were no longer beneficial for each other.

But Oliver seemingly mended issues with the Demons and managed to play 21 games in 2024. The Demons failed to muster a finals campaign, finishing 14th, with rumours again soon emerging that the 27-year-old wanted out of the Demons.

The midfielder has already held discrete chats with Geelong, including a meeting at player Rhys Stanley’s house that reportedly involved star defender Tom Stewart.

And now The Age is reporting a source at the Cats says Oliver has told the club he would be willing to take a pay cut to join their list.

They are also reporting a source at Oliver’s management confirmed a pay cut was a viable option.

Oliver is currently visiting family and friends in and around the Shepparton area in Victoria.

Former Geelong and Melbourne player Shannon Byrnes is believed to be a central figure in the move.

Byrnes played 108 games for Geelong, including the 2007 and 2009 premierships, before finishing his AFL career with the Demons.

He went on to become a player development manager at Melbourne, striking up a friendship with Oliver during their premiership run.

Byrnes has since returned to the Cats.