LATEST REPORT FROM: Kane Cornes wants the Demons to release Clayton Oliver b……

Clayton Oliver is not even one year into a seven-year contract that is reportedly worth around $10 million. Kane Cornes has encouraged Melbourne to offload the troublesome midfielder in the off-season in order to free up salary cap space. However, Oliver’s difficult pre-season, which hampered the start of his 2024 campaign, has Cornes concerned that this could be a persistent problem if the Demons don’t act quickly to get rid of him.

The midfielder for the 2021 Premiership was in the news during the off-season for a number of reasons, including his early departure from the team’s training camp at the end of 2023 due to heavy trade rumors and a brief hospital stay.

“That’s one of the worst contracts we’ve ever seen,” Cornes said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Monday night. Cornes has announced he has had enough and is asking Melbourne to look to unload the player as soon as possible.

“If you live in Melbourne, you must take all necessary steps to remove that pay from your records.

“If that means you need to trade one of your picks to the club that is willing to take that (Oliver) contract, you absolutely do that.”

Cornes says Oliver is a “distraction” the club doesn’t need, as they continue to hunt for another premiership.

“You cannot have the distraction of Clayton Oliver, not only with the form that he’s in, but the off-field stuff, and this going on for six years, with $10 million tied up in your salary cap,” he said.

“If a club wants to take that off your hands, that is an absolute blessing.”

As for where Oliver could likely end up, 9News Melbourne’s chief football reporter Tom Morris says a plethora of clubs have shown interest.

“There has been a lot of chat between other clubs … around Clayton Oliver,” Morris stated.

“They believe that he is gettable.”

Melbourne, though, has swiftly refuted any rumors that the 26-year-old would be moving.

“I’ve communicated with the Demons; they vehemently contest this. Morris remarked, “They think Clayton Oliver is going nowhere; he has six years left on a big contract, and they enjoy the way he’s playing.

“(But) the noise is enough for me just to wonder whether something could be orchestrated at the end of the year.”

After eighteen rounds, the Demons have a 10-7 record and are ranked ninth on the rankings.