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Clayton Oliver at Caulfield (right) and at the club’s awards night (right).Credit:Simon Schluter and Andrew Wu

The Dees kept their word in not trading Oliver,who hadmet several Cats players at ruckman Rhys Stanley’s farm heading into the player exchange period.

“That’s alright,Melbourne are looking good,we’ll be right,” Oliver said at the races at Caulfield,where a horse raced by his friend Darcy Mangan was victorious.

Oliver spoke bullishly of the Demons’ chances next year after a disappointing 2024 in which the club missed the finals for the first time since 2020.

Melbourne can spike next year if Christian Petracca gets a full season after having his year cut short by a serious internal injury and Oliver can return to the form which made him a force in the club’s drought-busting premiership in 2021.

Prized picks at five and nine in this year’s mooted super draft will provide further cause for optimism that the Dees can rise after tumbling to 14th.

“We were there a couple of years ago,we fell short 2022 and 2023,last year we had Gussy[Angus] Brayshaw retire,Trac[Christian Petracca] got injured,I had a stinker of a year,Maysy[Steven May] was a little bit off,” Oliver said.

Oliver said he was over the fitness issues that interrupted and disrupted his season.

“I’m alright,got my hand fixed up,metal plate taken out,my knee’s all good,I had a couple of broken ribs,they’re all fixed up,” Oliver said.

“I had a stinker but that’s all right,it happens.”

Oliver said he remained in constant contact with Petracca,who is training overseas in Europe after patching up differences with the club.

Olivier cut a relaxed figure at Caulfield,celebrating Niance’s victory in the listed Alinghi Stakes with friend Darcy Mangan,who runs Ace Bloodstock.

A lover of the turf,Oliver has part-shares in several horses but knocked back an offer to buy a share in the Grahame Begg-trained sprinter.

“I got offered it. He gave me first choice,but I was into the footy season,so just worried about that,” Oliver said.

Oliver has a horse,Extratwo,running next week at Moonee Valley for trainer Ciaron Maher.

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