2020 Trade & Free Agency Spotlight | Clayton Oliver
Written by Joseph Addamo
Throughout the 2020 off-season, Blue Abroad will be providing content to cover everything you need to know about the Carlton Football Club.
Looking to take the next step in 2021, the success of this off-season’s recruiting is critical. We will be looking at various opposition players on the open market that could add another dimension to the current crop of players.
This is the Blue Abroad Trade & Free Agency Player Spotlight for Melbourne’s #13 – Clayton Oliver.
WHO IS CLAYTON OLIVER?
Junior Club: Murray Bushrangers, U18 TAC Cup
AFL Selection: Pick 4, 2015 AFL National Draft by the Melbourne Demons
Age (@ Round 1, 2021): 23
Height: 187cm
Weight: 85kg
Position(s): Midfielder
Career Games: 99
Career Goals: 29
WHAT IS CLAYTON OLIVER’S STRONGEST ATTRIBUTE?
2015 Morrish Medalist, 2017 AFLCA Best Young Player, dual Melbourne Best & Fairest winner… at just 23 years of age. Clayton Oliver’s career has flourished since being drafted by the Demons in 2015. His tenacity as a big bodied midfielder and ability to release teammates from stoppages is not only a standout of his own game, but a standout amongst his AFL peers.
In his career to date among midfielders, Oliver rates as elite for disposals per game (27.6), effective disposals (20), clearances (6.3), tackles (6.2), pressure acts (22.5), contested possessions (14.7) and ground ball gets (10.6). He also ranks above average for disposal efficiency (72.5%), inside 50s (3.6) and score involvements (5.6).
The stats don’t lie. Oliver is a contested animal.
WHERE WOULD CLAYTON OLIVER FIT IN CARLTON’S STARTING 22?
Oliver walks straight into Carlton’s best 22, right alongside Patrick Cripps in the midfield. The tandem of Oliver and Cripps would immediately announce themselves as the best contested duo in the AFL. It would be a scary proposition for opposition sides. Add in the likes of Ed Curnow, Will Setterfield and Zac Williams rotating through with them and it would be good night and good luck to any team winning the clearance count each week.
In the Demons’ Preliminary Final-making 2018, Oliver truly announced himself as a premier clearance player in the competition. His Round 19 effort vs. Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval epitomized the ferocity at which he attacked the football and owned stoppages. He gathered 31 disposals with 25 contested possessions, laid 4 tackles, was involved in 7 scoring chains and amassed a career-high 14 clearances in the win.
Just picturing Cripps and Oliver standing side-by-side in Round 1, 2021 at the MCG vs. Richmond would be enough to get any Blues fan overexcited.
WHAT IS CLAYTON OLIVER’S CONTRACT STATUS?
In 2018, Oliver signed a contract extension at Melbourne that has him tied to the club until the end of 2021. While there is no official news on the Blues making a play for the star midfielder, rumours are abound, and the prospect of landing Oliver may not be as out-of-reach as many think.
What would it take to lure Oliver to Carlton this offseason, and what would the Demons be expecting in return? 2 first round draft picks would be the value set over Oliver’s head at a minimum. Considering the Blues hold Pick 7 in 2020, along with their 2021 future first round pick still intact, the Blues could easily whet the appetite of Melbourne. But are they prepared to part with their midfield gun?
Reports that Oliver was potentially disgruntled at his 2020 5th placed Best & Fairest result, along with the recent re-signing of midfield bull Jack Viney to a 5 year deal, sparked the rumours in the initial phase. It is also no secret that Melbourne are in the market for a key forward to straight them up at their attacking end of the ground. Mitch McGovern and Levi Casboult spring to mind as potential trade bait alternatives for the Demons in getting a deal done.
If there is genuine unrest from Oliver at Melbourne, and a trade can satiate both parties’ needs, it would be one of the bigger offseason moves and acquisitions in recent memory.
REALISTIC ACQUISITION RATING
5 / 10
