‘He’s been summoned’: Oliver told to ‘look at his options’ as details of crunch meeting revealed

Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver’s “immediate playing future is uncertain” after being “summoned” to a meeting with new coach Steven King.

SEN’s Sam Edmund reported that the pair are set to meet each other for the first time, where King will outline his plans for the gun midfielder moving forward.

Edmund believes a role change is on the horizon for the four-time best and fairest with all options for Oliver’s playing future on the table.

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“Clayton has been summoned to a meeting today with Steven King to be introduced to the new Melbourne coach. The pair haven’t met face to face before,” Edmund told AFL Trade Radio.

“It’s my understanding that in this meeting today Steven King will outline his plans for Clayton Oliver next season, and there will be a change in role, certainly a change in philosophy, a change in how they want to use Clayton Oliver.

“From what I’m told that may or may not be to Clayton’s liking, and all options are on the table here in terms of him being asked to explore his options, Clayton saying he wants to explore his options.

“At the moment his immediate playing future is uncertain. He had been largely resolved in his own mind that he wanted to stay at Melbourne for the long term and make it work.

“I’m not sure if that feeling is 100 per cent reciprocated by Melbourne.

“So that meeting will take place. He’s being summoned there, I’m told, specifically. It’s an open-ended conversation that could go in any direction.”

The news comes just days after fellow star midfielder Christian Petracca requested a trade, while key defender Steven May has also been encouraged to explore his options.

Melbourne has been steadfast in its messaging that any Petracca move would need to greatly benefit the club.

“I’ve spoken to Christian on the phone,” King told SEN Breakfast on Thursday morning.

“As a coach I’d love the opportunity to work with Christian and coach him.

“I fully understand the landscape we’re in. I respect Christian’s decisions now to explore his options but he has got fours left on a contract.

“So it would have to be an amazing deal for our footy club for him to move. If things don’t work out for Christian, it’s a fresh start with me and Paul (Guerra) as CEO.

“I’ve got his back around walking back into the club and playing great footy, and I’ll back him in.”

King said Petracca “would be central” to the Dees’ plans should he stay.

“I’ve let him know the environment I want to create here at this footy club and more importantly the style and brand of footy we want to play,” King said.

“Christian would be central to that. He’s still runner-up in our best and fairest and we all know the player Christian is. He’d be pivotal to those plans I’ve got.

“I respect his time and space, I’ll give him that, but he’d be a central part of what we’re doing moving forward.”

Emerging youngster Judd McVee has also requested a trade to Fremantle in what shapes as a big off-season for King and the Dees.

“Today’s meeting is further proof Melbourne is seeking a fresh start under Steven King,” Nine’s Tom Morris told AFL Trade Radio.

“Clayton Oliver fully expects to be told to look at his options and I can tell you he is very flat.”

Petracca met with Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks in recent days, but Essendon great James Hird thinks the Crows should also look at Oliver.

“The Adelaide Crows could well and truly do with Clayton Oliver,” Hird added.