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Kane Cornes torches Melbourne over the ‘worst contract in history’
Kane Cornes has taken a flamethrower to one club over the contract they gave to a star they’re desperately looking to get rid of.
James McKern
October 3, 2025 – 4:25PM
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Melbourne push Oliver toward 2026 exit
AFL: The Melbourne Dee’s have told Clatyton Oliver to look for a new club ahead of the 2026 season.
Kane Cornes has put Melbourne in the crosshairs over the contract they handed to Clayton Oliver.
The 28-year-old was effectively given his marching orders from the club following a heated 12-minute meeting with coach Steven King on Thursday.
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Oliver was informed by the club to explore his options elsewhere and that if he was to stay, it would likely see him play in the VFL.
The bombshell news comes despite Oliver having five years left on his contract that will pay him $1.3 million per year.
In order to help facilitate a potential trade, the club are willing to pay half of his contract per year until it expires in 2030.
While Oliver stole the spotlight, thanks in large part to an expletive-laden outburst at Melbourne Airport, it was the Demons who copped the wrath from Cornes.
The former Port Adelaide premiership star slammed the club and singled out list manager Tim Lamb for the absurd contract they forked over.
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Clayton Oliver is still owed close to $7m over the next five years. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
“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. (Demons president) 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.”
Oliver will be looking for a new home in 2026. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Commentator Kane Cornes took aim at the club over the contract. Picture: Michael Klein
Where will Oliver end up?
The big question since Oliver walked out of his meeting with the club’s new coach has been where he will go.
Josh Jenkins believes the midfield bull won’t have to wander very far with Collingwood desperate for an inside mid to help feed the ball to their outside runners.
“I was having a good think about this and he’s 28 years of age and he doesn’t turn 29 until the middle of next year,” Jenkins said on AFL Trade Radio.
“He fits in the black and white. He fits at Collingwood perfectly.”
Tom Morris however has stated the GWS Giants are primed to slide their chips into the middle of the table to secure Oliver.
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Giants ‘all in’ on Clayton Oliver
The GWS Giants have emerged as a new home for the…
“The Giants are all in on Clayton Oliver as it stands right now,” Morris said on AFL Trade Radio.
“Now it is very early, but they want another player to help their clearance game and they believe at $600-$700,000 a year it is a bargain.
“And crucially … they have a history of helping players who for whatever reason have lost their way a little bit off the field.
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“Jesse Hogan being the poster boy but also in some respects Jake Stringer too.”
While Oliver seeks a new home, Melbourne are set to look like a completely different outfit in 2026 with star Christian Petracca also informing the club of his desire to be traded to the Gold Coast Suns.
The AFL Trade Period officially opens on Monday, October 6.
Read related topics:Melbourne
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