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"Worst contract in history": Cornes calls out Demons over Oliver saga
SEN • October 3rd, 2025 11:16 am
With up to $3.5 million on the line, Kane Cornes has called out the decision makers at Melbourne for the catastrophic contract they handed Clayton Oliver.
The midfielder has been told to look for opportunities elsewhere after an explosive meeting with new Melbourne coach Steven King this week.
The club has understood to have said they will pay as much as half of his contract for him to play against them – meaning cutting ties with Oliver will cost them up to $700,000 a season for the five years remaining on his current deal.
Staggered by the absurdity of the situation, Cornes called out Melbourne’s list manager Tim Lamb.
“Clayton Oliver, the worst contract in football history signed by Melbourne,” Cornes said on AFL Trade Radio.
“What are the ramifications for the people that signed off on this? Tim Lamb, I got his statement yesterday about the fact they had asked Oliver to evolve his game and change.
“A couple of years ago I read a statement from Lamb saying what a star Clayton Oliver is and he’s thrilled he committed his career to Melbourne.
“Tim Lamb should be in the hot seat. How has he escaped any scrutiny for ticking off the worst contract in football history? Is there anyone that says, ‘Hey Tim, how do you think your performance has been?’
“I want to revisit the ones who sign off the deals. Brad Green, he’s had a shocking two years – terrible. He’s ticked off, Lamb, the list management group. But they will be in a job for another 10 years, no one questions them.
“This is a club that is willing to pay $700k (a year) out of their cap to a player to play for another club.”
In the wake of his meeting with the Demons, Oliver was caught up in a fiery exchange with the media as he arrived at Melbourne Airport on Thursday evening.
He spoke to Seven’s Mitch Cleary at Tullamarine, greeting the reporter with a smile before sending some expletive language his way.
“Honestly, f*** off, I don’t know how many times I’ve got to say it mate,” he said.
“I’m going to Sydney on a holiday, and then I’m going to America, got nothing to do with anything.”
Oliver was then filmed approaching the Seven camera saying, “Oh f***, I hate that c***, he is a f****”.
