Clayton Oliver could LEAVE Melbourne Football Club as surprise AFL team monitor troubled footy star

Clayton Oliver’s future could be away from the Melbourne Football Club with reports suggesting another Victorian side are monitoring the 26-year-old.

Oliver has struggled off the field recently, with the superstar midfielder hospitalized in the off-season, but he has bounced back and returned to training in superb form for the new AFL season.

The troubled star is locked into a seven-year deal with the Demons, signed in June 2022, but has been linked with a fresh start away from the club.

And according to News Corp’s Jay Clark, Geelong Football Club is keeping a close eye on Oliver.

“We can tell you tonight that Geelong are keeping a very close eye on Clayton Oliver,” Clark told Fox Footy on Tuesday night.

‘We know the Cats have a midfield, (Patrick) Dangerfield, 34, (Cam) Guthrie is injured, a couple of youngsters – (Max) Holmes, (Tanner) Bruhn are still developing.’

Clark added that the Cats are also looking at Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith, who is out for a year after rupturing his ACL in pre-season training.

‘They’re crying out, Cats, for their next midfield star. We know a little about (the) Bailey Smith (interest). You can add Clayton Oliver to the Cats’ watchlist, they are very keen (for) his services if he becomes available.’

A stunned Sam Landsberger asked Clark, ‘All summer I thought Bailey Smith was going to be their top target,’ Landsberger said. ‘(He has) Cotton On sponsorship, they share that with the Cats. Are you telling me they (prefer) Clayton Oliver over ‘Baz’? Or could they have both? This is big.’

Clark replied: ‘That’s a good question. I don’t think they have preferences because it’s so early. We’re not even in Round 1 yet.

The 26-year-old could switch to fellow AFL giants Geelong Cats

‘(Cats head of recruitment) Andrew Mackie and his staff will have a list of 30 midfield targets that they (covet). They need a new spearhead.

‘It is an aging and disjointed group. They need someone in there to help take them back to the finals. We know the Cats don’t mess around with their recruitment – Jeremy Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield – they go to rock bottom.

“So this could be the bomb move (because) Bailey Smith we’ve known about.”

Fox Footy colleague Jon Ralph added: ‘I just love Geelong’s ambition. I love the fact that they will never go quietly into the night – the premiership window is never closed.’