PREMIERSHIP midfielder Clayton Oliver has signed a long-term contract with Melbourne, which will see him remain a Demon for life.
The 24-year-old, agreed to terms on a seven-year contract, keeping him in the Red and Blue until at least the end of 2030.
Melbourne List Manager Tim Lamb said he was thrilled to secure the signature of Oliver.
“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. It shows the faith he has in our playing group and coaches and it is a huge endorsement of the culture we have built under Simon,” he told Melbourne Media.
“Clayton is an elite midfielder who has shown incredible consistency over his career, highlighted by the three Bluey Truscott Trophies already to his name. He is loved and respected by his teammates and coaches and is a key pillar of our ambitions to achieve sustained success.
“His 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.”
Oliver has been recognised for his consistent, elite performance with several accolades, including winning Melbourne’s Best and Fairest on three occasions. He is also a two-time All-Australian and last year took home the coveted AFL Coaches Association award for best player throughout the 2021 season.
The midfielder has led the way in Melbourne’s engine room in 2022, averaging a remarkable 34 disposals per game this season
Clayton was drafted in 2015 at pick No.4 in the National Draft. He has played 138 games to date, with career averages of 29 disposals and 6 clearances.
