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Clayton Oliver set to be a Demon until 2030

By James Kleeman

Mooroopna product and premiership midfielder Clayton Oliver has put pen to paper on a seven-year contract with Melbourne which will see him remain at the club until the end of the 2030 season.

The 24-year-old, who would have been eligible for free agency at the end of his contract next year, played a key role in Melbourne’s flag triumph last year and has announced himself as one of the AFL’s premier midfielders in recent seasons.

Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb said he was delighted to see Oliver commit to the club on a long-term basis.

“As one of the best players in the competition, we are delighted that Clayton has turned his back on free agency and chosen to commit to the club,” Lamb told Melbourne media.

“It shows the faith he has in our playing group and coaches and it is huge endorsement of the culture we have built under Simon (Goodwin).

“Clayton is an elite midfielder who has shown incredible consistency over his career, highlighted by the three Bluey Truscott Trophies already to his name.”

With 138 games under his belt, Oliver has already picked up two All-Australian selections and the AFL Coaches Association award for best player during the 2021 season.

Drafted in 2015 at pick number four, Oliver has averaged 29 disposals and six clearances across his career.

Lamb said securing Oliver’s services would be of great benefit to the club both on and off the field in the years to come.

“He is loved and respected by his teammates and coaches and is a key pillar of our ambitions to achieve sustained success,” he said.

“Clarry’s ability to perform at an extremely high-level week after week is a direct reflection of the amount of work and effort he puts into his training. His training standards are reflected in his performance come game time.

“At only 24 years of age, we are excited to see what Clayton can achieve in the future and we know our members and supporters will love watching him perform in the red-and-blue for the rest of his career.”

SHEPPARTON NEWS

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2022-07-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-07-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://sheppartonnews.pressreader.com/article/282295323893301

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