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Why Garry Lyon loved hearing Clayton Oliver’s candid trade admission
Lachlan Geleit • March 6th, 2025 1:06 pm
Melbourne great Garry Lyon loved hearing Clayton Oliver’s admission that he hasn’t been the best teammate over the last 18 months.
In that time period, Oliver has battled multiple on and off-field issues which resulted in him being put on the trade table and pushing for a move to Geelong despite having six years left on his contract.
Speaking to the media, Oliver says he understood why the club looked at moving him on as he hopes to put that saga behind him and recapture his best footy in 2025.
“I got told I was on the trade table, there was a few things going on, which I understand,” Oliver told media on Wednesday.
“I get paid a fair bit to play football and perform at a high level and I wasn't doing that.
“I probably wasn't the best teammate or best person at the club, so yeah, I understand that.
“It’s a business at the end of the day … and Melbourne are trying to win premierships, that's the aim of football, we're there to win flags.
"We're there to be a successful team and when you've got someone … one of your better players, or one of your better-paid players, underperforming you don't blame them.
"It is what it is, it didn't happen and I'm very happy to be at Melbourne.”
After hearing that admission, Lyon was heartened to hear publicly that Oliver is openly fixing the problems he faced, believing it’s a great step in the right direction for both player and club.
“I loved it. I was just so heartened by it, because knowing Clayton's personality, which is what makes him an unbelievably good footy player … is how stubborn he can be,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“The first step to fixing any problem you've got, whatever it is, is admitting you've got it.
“That's the bottom line of what I heard there, and in the past, I don't think there's been that admission.
“So when I hear him say things like, ‘I wasn't the best teammate or the best person at the footy club’, that’s great, there’s the admission.
“Until you admit that you've got a problem, you can't start fixing it.”
Oliver showed some serious signs that he could be back to his best in last week’s AAMI Community Series clash against Fremantle as he helped himself to three goals and 28 disposals.
He’ll hope to start the official season well when the Demons face the Giants at the MCG on Sunday, March 16.
Listen to the full Oliver discussion between Lyon and Tim Watson here.
