Controversial AFL star Clayton Oliver raises eyebrows as move to Geelong gathers pace

Controversial AFL midfielder Clayton Oliver has raised eyebrows on the eve of Melbourne’s best-and-fairest awards.

Oliver’s bombshell to Geelong move is gathering pace and on Thursday Cats superstar Tom Stewart told 7NEWS about his meeting with the 27-year-old at teammate Rhys Stanley’s farm.

Earlier, Oliver had made a surprise move on social media, liking an Instagram post by Cenchfooty that read, “Big day for Geelong. Clayton Oliver wants in. Bailey Smith likewise. Jack Martin heading there.”

The account has more than 230,000 followers and Oliver’s name was clearly visible as one who had liked that particular post.

Oliver is on huge money at Melbourne and he is contracted until the end of 2030.

But it is now unclear if he will even attend the club’s best and fairest on Friday night (tonight).

Oliver’s possible move to Geelong comes 12 months after he flirted with the idea of leaving Melbourne following a wretched 2023 season where his professionalism was called into question.

Oliver ended up staying at the Demons, but had a tumultuous off-season and spent time in hospital following a seizure that resulted in a head injury.

He then took an extended break from the club to deal with a host of personal issues.

But he remarkably managed to return in time for the start of the 2024 season and played 21 games before his year was shut down with finals out of reach.

Oliver showed flashes of his brilliant best, but struggled for consistency and battled through a series of injuries.

Stewart told 7NEWS he was pleased with how the meeting went, but knows a lot needs to go right for the trade to happen.

“It was good, obviously any sort of talent we can attract to the club is important for us, so I had the opportunity to meet with him and it is an interesting thing for me in my stage of the career, but it went well, he’s a good man,” he told 7NEWS.

“It’s not really pitching anything, it’s sort of enlightening him as to what we’re about as a footy club and the things we hold dear and really value.

“There are a lot of things that need to happen for the potential deal to get done but as I said earlier, if we can attract talent to the club, that is what we are about.”

7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary said that the Cats were now waiting for Melbourne to make the next move.

“The Cats believe this is being led by Melbourne so they feel like they don’t need to do much more now and wait for Melbourne to make the next move,” he said.

It’s looming as a bumper trade period for Geelong.

Western Bulldogs superstar Bailey Smith has requested a trade to the Cats, while former Blue Jack Martin will join the club as a free agent.

If Oliver joins as well then the Cats will fancy their chances of going all the way next year after they fell 10 points short of eventual premiers Brisbane in the preliminary final.