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A dinner with coach Simon Goodwin has proved crucial to gun midfielder Clayton Oliver staying at Melbourne after days of trade speculation.
Clayton Oliver's manager says some "robust" conversations and a dinner with coach Simon Goodwin proved the breakthrough that kept the star midfielder at Melbourne.
Rival AFL clubs had circled Oliver, believing the 26-year-old was available as a trade option despite a long-term contract until 2030, amid reports Melbourne wanted him to improve his attitude and off-field behaviour.
But after days of silence, the Demons poured cold water on a potential trade on Friday and committed to helping Oliver through his "personal circumstances".
"It's been confronting, but out of all of this it's an opportunity to grow," Oliver's manager Nick Gieschen told AFL Media.
"Off the back of a lot of the hard, honest, robust conversations it's given him a chance to get some stuff off his chest and some time to heal.
"He very much loves the Melbourne Football Club, it's like his family.
"He's grown up there, he feels very strongly about the footy club and the players and coaches, and sometimes families fight but he's got enormous respect for 'Goody'.
"And as much as it's been challenging I don't think he can see himself playing under another coach because of all the support he's had from the footy club."
Gieschen said there was "genuine" interest from other clubs but dinner at Goodwin's house on Thursday night, which football manager Alan Richardson also attended, "settled" matters.
"After three or four days of him processing it, it was a bit of a coming together and a 'let's get on with it' and he took it on board," Gieschen said.
Oliver will attempt to bounce back from a frustrating 2023 season, when he was restricted to 15 games because of a drawn-out hamstring issue.
"He's got some work to do, he knows he does, and he is trying and Melbourne has been amazing," Gieschen said.
"Clayton's had as much support as any player could."
Goodwin spoke publicly about the importance of culture and standards at Melbourne's best and fairest on Friday night.
The Demons have suffered consecutive straight-sets exits since their 2021 premiership.
"To all our players, when you do face challenges and eventually break through them it makes the prize at the end of the road more satisfying and more fulfilling," Goodwin said.
"We have an opportunity right now, an opportunity to harness the hurt. Learn from it and come back stronger. It's in our hands.
"One thing that has enabled us to keep showing up is our culture; a culture that has been built over a period of time and is the piece that we will be uncompromising in maintaining and building further to achieve the ultimate success.
"Everyone needs to be heading in the same direction, and as we head into the off-season, I've never been more confident that we can achieve this as a club.
"It's up to everyone to keep driving standards and I urge every player here tonight to enjoy the break. But remember, we will be dusting ourselves off and going again next year."
