Rumour GFC 2025 Player Trading, Drafting FA, Rumours and Wish lists Pt 1

[Heckler]

Can they? Are there Salary Cap complications? Would the AFL say .. Sure cancel the contract but you must keep the numbers in the cap? Who knows as the AFL sometimes appear to rule as if they are the Vatican and they are their own country.

Technically if Oliver was in the last year of his contract right now …he would be about to become a Free Agent. That would change things substantially id have thought. I highly doubt the AFL would give any FA comp.

I wonder if both Melb and CO were able to petition the AFL to cancel the contract based on mental issues if it would be could be done. As a straight player id not have CO above Geelong top 5 players atm. …it would cost Oliver millions but how much is peace of mind worth?

Contracts have terms and conditions, either party can force the other to abide by.
If both parties agree to change the terms / conditions..the can do so at any time,
AFL would maintain existing cap for the current year, and adjust for next season.
No different to when all new contracts are lodged by clubs, before new season.

Sure, Melbourne can force Oliver to stay... but why would they if he wants to go?
Demons just need a way to sell the trade deal as a win for the club to the fans.
They could drop Oliver for the last 6 games, tank for draft picks, and blame Oliver

 

[Heckler]

Oliver gives up millions and millions

Can’t see it happening

Oliver can choose either success and fun or money.
If he is chasing the money Cat's won't want him.
This arrangements puts Cats in control of this trade
Demons pay $250 Cats pay $750 Oliver cuts -$500k
Otherwise sure Oliver will be happy at StK GCS WCE.

 

[thegerman]

Not that I want to get too far into supression order matters but the Jack De Belin case is an obvious one here. Not that I'm saying it will drag on for as many years as that did or that he will be acquitted the same way. But De Belin was stood down on full pay the whole time and is now back playing. This is one of many examples of why the club wouldnt move to rip up the contract now (and the AFLPA wouldnt allow this anyway) in case there isnt a guilty verdict-the last thing it wants is being sued.
As other posters have pointed out the AFL would likely be telling us quietly not to play him. But at the same time working with the PA so he gets his base contract wage. He still would be getting less than his full earnings due to not triggering B and F clauses etc.
The only possible change at the edges would be if the club asks the AFL to let us make him inactive on full pay and allow us to have an extra SSP/MSD spot but as cats_09 points out it wouldnt be until after the initial court hearings that we would look at that.

Totally agree. I’m unsure of the proceedings, is there a date for the first hearing?

 

[Oisin_the_Goat]

Oliver can come, and it might end up being a great move. But existing contract will be torn up. He will be taking a massive pay cut and Melbourne probably won't get anything in return. They just get him off their books.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

I should further add, without watching the game, I can’t say for certain on Reid’s performance. But my mate who is a West Coast fan and a good eye for football genuinely believes Reid isn’t best 22 at the moment. This is startling to me. And if it continues and festers and they have to make a decisions whether they drop him or not, it makes you wonder what move they’ll make with it. Or if he will become “managed”. Again, my point is, with how bad it is already, how can this possibly drag on through 2026?

Your mate is spot on , he was nowhere near it condition wise at the start of preseason and did miss some weeks with injury during it.
He hasn't been able to get anywhere near AFL fitness and seems to be playing angry and without discipline.
It's more than second year blues for him , I do have some sympathy as Kelly is poor and Yeo is injured but the attitude is a real concern.
Could go either way depending on how he prepares for 2026..............

 

[Hamingja]

Totally agree. I’m unsure of the proceedings, is there a date for the first hearing?

It is sometime in June but that won't resolve anything unless the police are useless and it gets thrown out of court. The current contract is until the end of 2027. Touch and go whether there is a court decision before then I reckon. Without a guilty verdict he won't be sacked so it's going to stretch on for a long time.

 

[Turbocat]

If we rate him... we make sure he is "injured" come combine season.

If it is a stage where you need combine data to see if he is worth a list spot or not... you know he is nothing crazy.

Whether its actually at the combine or done privately … id say the data on those measuarble would influence our judgment on hm. In believe he did some training at Geelong so they would have a solid idea on hm.. although 6 goals ina game would perhaps hint a break out. Makes it interesting down the track … one would think we have a few playing that type of role.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Oliver wants a fresh start at a new club...Easy!
Both parties need to agree to end the contract.
Oliver traded to Cats. Demons don't pay a cent.
Cats make small trade : negotiate new contract.
Demons gain trade + unencumbered salary cap.
Oliver shows: not playing for Money but the Game
Cats gain Oliver on a fair contract and trade.
Oliver gets his Fresh Start at club of his choice.

Everybody Wins.

Yes but it's more complicated because he's on 1.3mil a year (and rising).
Geelong won't pay him that (7-800 Max and that's still a lot)
Melbourne are unlikely to agree to pay him 500k a year to play elsewhere.
Clayton is unlikely to agree to a 500k a year pay cut assuming the afl would even agree. Remember he's contracted til he's 33 so the deal can't have extra years added and extended to smooth it out.
Normally I'd agree to you it's a done deal. But because of this contract it's complicated and I reckon it's unlikely there will be a compromise that's good enough to solve it (but I could be wrong).

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I wonder if WC will put there hand up for an assistance package/priority picks.

They are and have been absolutely terrible for a while now.

I won’t be shocked if they get band 1 for Oscar Allen… which will end up pick #2 in the draft.

As much as I want to get Reid for draft picks (if we get him at all) I think WC will be more interested in players… or picks + players to help them be more competitive.

Just thinking out loud here.

I get your idea but no top tier players will want to go there. We have seen this with North Melbourne.

 

[stac]

Your mate is spot on , he was nowhere near it condition wise at the start of preseason and did miss some weeks with injury during it.
He hasn't been able to get anywhere near AFL fitness and seems to be playing angry and without discipline.
It's more than second year blues for him , I do have some sympathy as Kelly is poor and Yeo is injured but the attitude is a real concern.
Could go either way depending on how he prepares for 2026..............

l heard He had a calf issue WC tried to correct issue with Botox but it didn’t work and he was unable to train
This has resulted in his lack of fitness and subsequent media pressure

He is really pissed at the club

All adding fuel to an existing fire

 

[My Tilly]

Oliver can come, and it might end up being a great move. But existing contract will be torn up. He will be taking a massive pay cut and Melbourne probably won't get anything in return. They just get him off their books.

We can't afford to take on an unsettled indivdual such as Oliver. Not only is he not the same player, he's an automatic red flag for a young list such as ours.

Hope the club make the right call.

 

[Commando]

I think Oliver is a cautionary tale of long term contracts

Unfortunately for him and the club they've made their bed and have to lie in it
It was smiles all around when he signed the contract...

 

[supahoops]

You wouldn’t be excited if Clark was a rookie, he has done nothing, turn over king last week!

Did alright in a big win Saturday night, along with a few other whipping boys in Mullin, MOC..

 

[Pure_Ownage]

You wouldn't need the afl to intervene to cancel the contract, you just need Oliver to agree to leave millions of dollars on the table. Don't see it happening

Why would Oliver do this? Based on the jamarra precedent he can phone it in til 2030 and still get 1.4mil a year. There's no reason for him to agree to lose that much money.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I'd want Melbourne to be paying for to 60% minimum of the wage - they be the ones who signed the deal and they shouldn't get out of that responsibility

They might pay 250 a year (like pies and grundy). But they wont pay 60 % of his wage for him to pay for us no way. Which is where the problem is.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Oliver can choose either success and fun or money.
If he is chasing the money Cat's won't want him.
This arrangements puts Cats in control of this trade
Demons pay $250 Cats pay $750 Oliver cuts -$500k
Otherwise sure Oliver will be happy at StK GCS WCE.

Oliver would have to be absolutely mad to give up 2.5 Mil no matter how mu h he wants out.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Oliver can choose either success and fun or money.
If he is chasing the money Cat's won't want him.
This arrangements puts Cats in control of this trade
Demons pay $250 Cats pay $750 Oliver cuts -$500k
Otherwise sure Oliver will be happy at StK GCS WCE.

The Geelong FC and Joel Selwood way and mantra - "I play for the club not for money"

If Clayton Oliver comes out by seasons end and says he wants out and Geelong is his preferred club then what you have referenced Heckler: is not far off the mark. Coz let's be honest here, from a Geelong perspective if indeed we were prepared to have Clayton Oliver come to our club with our nearest reference point regards formline being his current form what would be a realistic figure salary wise be. I'd say 750k to 850k at tops but 'no more' otherwise 'no deal'. So yeah, what you are suggesting Heckler: seems to be fair and reasonable on the prevision that his current form remains the status quo.

Melbourne has to be responsible for some of Clayton Oliver's current and ridiculous long-term contract of which the Demons contributing around 250k seems about fair of which they then can go and free up around 1.25 million from their salary cap which over the next few years can make a world of difference to them going forward with rejuvenating there playing list. Geelong under this agreement then isn't paying overs on his current form and with Clayton being prepared to take a 500K pay cut per annum which nett after tax amounts to 285k per year he'd be forfeiting, which if he agreed would display that he genuinely wants to play for 'our great club' rather than 'play for the money' which has become the Geelong WAY and MANTRA, which has been previously expressed by our champion of the club in Joel Selwood.

Outside our awesome recruiting and development over the past 20 odd years, this is why has Geelong been so competitive for so long, year after year after year as we just competing against the best.... it just should not be happening?

The Geelong FC and Joel Selwood way and mantra - "I play for the club not for money"

What a effen legend ️

 

[cats_09]

They might pay 250 a year (like pies and grundy). But they wont pay 60 % of his wage for him to pay for us no way. Which is where the problem is.

Exactly

Grundy's split payment has been reported as roughly $350k from Collingwood & $650k from Sydney - so 33% and 66%

Even if Melbourne agreed to pay 33%, that would still leave close to $1million for the new club to play; while Melbourne themselves would be paying an amount that's equivalent to more than the current average wage for a player not on their list and I simply don't see how they sell that as a win, especially as they're unlikely to get a first round pick in exchange for Oliver

I really don't see which team would actually be interested in talking him on with the contract his on


It's a much easier pass for me this year then last year watching how he's actually traveling

 

[thegerman]

Oliver would have to be absolutely mad to give up 2.5 Mil no matter how mu h he wants out.

Absolutely agree with all your points. There’s no way Oliver will give up $$ and there’s no way Melbourne will pay above 25% of the contract. Lastly, I can’t see Geelong paying him a million, when we should be chasing either Butters or Reid.

 

[Mr Meow]

We can't afford to take on an unsettled indivdual such as Oliver. Not only is he not the same player, he's an automatic red flag for a young list such as ours.

Hope the club make the right call.

I cannot believe we are still seriously discussing the idea of bringing Oliver in.

He's like Jack Steven was when he came to us - but slower, fatter, poorer skilled, less fit and interested, and has more issues. Plus he'd cost more.

Take out the game Worpel was injured and he's going at 22 disposals, 6 clearances and 6 score involvements per game. He can defend at stoppage and move around fine. He's younger and there are no identified attitude issues. His ball use is average but not sub-par. Then he'll be cheaper.

Get Worpel if he's available - there's your workhorse. Then try and land a star who moves the needle like Butters.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Why would Oliver do this? Based on the jamarra precedent he can phone it in til 2030 and still get 1.4mil a year. There's no reason for him to agree to lose that much money

It's not going to happen, but it's the only avenue to tearing up a contract where the player is rocking up to training. If Oliver says he wants the money, Oliver gets the money

 

[And_ROOS]

I think Oliver is a cautionary tale of long term contracts

Unfortunately for him and the club they've made their bed and have to lie in it
It was smiles all around when he signed the contract...

Besides Buddy Franklin is there anyone that has been an overwhelming success for a long term deal?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Totally agree. I’m unsure of the proceedings, is there a date for the first hearing?

Not yet (although they could be keeping that under the suppression order who knows). I'd be surprised if it was earlier than august/September. There was talk of a mention hearing in June but that would be box ticking any sort of committal hearing (or they may skip it and go straight to trial) wouldn't start until aug/sep I would have thought. I reckon it will take at least 12 months to solve all up.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Besides Buddy Franklin is there anyone that has been an overwhelming success for a long term deal?

Dangerfield and to some degree Cameron.

 

[fpm84]

Not yet (although they could be keeping that under the suppression order who knows). I'd be surprised if it was earlier than august/September. There was talk of a mention hearing in June but that would be box ticking any sort of committal hearing (or they may skip it and go straight to trial) wouldn't start until aug/sep I would have thought. I reckon it will take at least 12 months to solve all up.

Committal Mention on 3/6.

'At a committal mention, your lawyer will indicate to the court whether you intend to plead guilty or not guilty in relation to your matter. In terms of what happens after a committal mention, a magistrate can offer a summary hearing, commit an accused for trial in a higher court, determine an application to cross-examine witnesses or make other orders or directions.'