‘Could still be an A-grader’: Clayton Oliver Cats’ ‘missing link’ as concerning trend emerges

Geelong has been urged to chase Clayton Oliver again as “a missing link” to its on-ball unit after it was smashed by Carlton through the middle of the ground.

The Cats were dominated in clearances (-14) for the first half of Sunday’s loss to the Blues at the MCG as Chris Scott’s side to 4-3.

Geelong attempted to pry Oliver away from the Demons last off-season including the three-time All-Australian midfielder visiting Rhys Stanley’s farm.

FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

And chief Herald Sun reported thinks Scott and company should pull out all the stops yet again to try and beef up the Cats midfield with an inside bull.

“I think Chris Scott, Andrew Mackie and Patrick Dangerfield are going to invite Clayton Oliver back down to Rhys Stanley’s farm. Because he is still a missing link for the Geelong Football Club,” Clark said on Fox Footy’s The First Crack.

“They were smashed in the first half in the clearance battle … over the whole season it’s been the same story, they’ve won clearances only once in seven games.”

The Cats were reportedly only willing to part with a first-round pick for Oliver last trade period if Melbourne would contribute towards his lucrative $1 million salary through until 2030.

Geelong is also one of several Victorian clubs pursing Matt Rowell, but the star midfielder is expected to re-sign with Gold Coast.

Clark showed vision of Scott, who deflected a question in his press conference about the clearance battle, sitting down with the Cats midfielders in the rooms after the loss.

“You don’t need to be a body language expert … Chris Scott goes straight to the midfield group saying: ‘Boys, what happened in their today?’,” Clark added.

“They’ve got the runners — they’ve got the ‘Dash Brothers’ (Bailey Smith and Max Holmes) — but they still need a hard head inside.

“Matt Rowell is probably staying at Gold Coast. You’d think you’d be able to get Clayton Oliver at a bit of a discount … he could still be an A-grader.”

Dual premiership Kangaroo David King, however, wasn’t convinced Oliver was the answer, suggesting the Cats would be better served developing their own midfielders internally.

“I haven’t seen it. A-grader is a big comeback,” King said of Oliver.

“I would persist with the young guys they’ve got rather than go to Clayton and stay on the development.

“Why can’t they release Atkins a fraction more as their bull? Why can’t they get Mannaugh in there? I think they’ve got enough talent there. I don’t think they need Clayton Oliver.

“I understand the discussion though.”

Even if Oliver, 27, is no longer the superstar he once was, dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna still thinks he has plenty to offer.

“They’ll probably try and get him, if they (can) get him for their late first-round pick and you don’t have to pay overs,” he said on The First Crack.

“He’s maybe not going to be a top, top liner again, but he’s still going to be an absolute worthwhile midfielder.”