With the trade period set to commence on Monday, the GWS Giants are wasting no time entering themselves into the race for Clayton Oliver, with the star Demon having likely played his last game for Melbourne.
On Thursday morning Oliver met with new Melbourne coach Steven King, who told Oliver his days as an inside midfielder for the Demons may be numbered, and he can explore other options if he wishes.
The Giants' quick-witted social media team posted a photo of Oliver and his former Melbourne teammate Toby Bedford on Thursday afternoon, before later showing on their X account that Oliver had followed GWS on Instagram.
The media team is now also the recruiting team 🤝 https://t.co/GueQIWbqoT pic.twitter.com/r6phSvCkGd
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) October 2, 2025
But according to a report from Nine's Tom Morris, GWS' interest in Oliver extends beyond just memes.
MORE: Clayton Oliver trade: Melbourne willing to pay over half of star's contract
"GWS has emerged as an early, serious suitor for Clayton Oliver," Morris reported on X.
"The Giants see Oliver as a player who could help fix their clearance game. Like other clubs, they are attracted to his reduced salary. They will seek a meeting with him.
"Expect Collingwood and Adelaide to explore a move for him as well, particularly if Christian Petracca chooses Gold Coast."
GWS has emerged as an early, serious suitor for Clayton Oliver.
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) October 2, 2025
The Giants see Oliver as a player who could help fix their clearance game. Like other clubs, they are attracted to his reduced salary. They will seek a meeting with him.
Expect Collingwood and Adelaide to explore…
Coincidentally, Oliver was spotted boarding a flight to Sydney on Thursday for a pre-planned holiday. It's unknown if he will meet with Giants officials during his time there.
"I'm going to Sydney on a holiday and then I'm going to America and it's got nothing to do with anything," Oliver told Seven's Mitch Cleary in a fiery exchange.
Clayton Oliver's career at the Demons is all but over tonight after a brutal meeting with Melbourne’s new coach. Chief Footy Reporter @cleary_mitch has exclusive details. https://t.co/5zYfOfGqUb @7AFL #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/qSX1yTUIl2
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) October 2, 2025
As Morris reports, the Giants' interest stems from their hope that Oliver could reinforce their clearance game, after GWS averaged the sixth-fewest clearances per game in 2025 (second-fewest amongst top-eight teams).
At the peak of his powers, Oliver is one of the greatest clearance players of the 21st century, with three All-Australian nods from 2018-2022 as proof of that.