In the early 2000s when the Brisbane Lions were competing for the premiership, Oliver became a fan of the team.
Clayton began his football career in the Goulburn Valley football league
In 2014, he took part in the Goulburn Valley Football League for the senior team at Mooroopna Football Club and was named the league’s rising star. However, in the same season, he struggled to play for the Bendigo Pioneers team in the TAC Cup and ended up playing only three games for that team.
In 2015 he moved from Echuca to Mooroopna to be closer to his school, Goulburn Valley Grammar School in Shepparton. After that, he was invited to join the Murray Bushrangers for the TAC Cup season that year.
He was unable to join the AFL Under-18 Championships due to osteitis pubis
Due to his osteitis pubis, Victoria County was unable to select him for the 2015 AFL Under-18 Championships.
After a slow start to the TAC Cup season, he was predicted to have a slim chance of being drafted in the 2015 AFL Draft. He missed the chance to play for Victoria County in the of these championships.
His initial goals were to start studying radiography at a university in 2016 and then compete in the Victorian Football League to increase his chances of being drafted by the AFL.
After an outstanding performance in the TAC Cup, Oliver was chosen for the VFL team of Richmond
Oliver’s TAC Cup form improved significantly in two games for them, resulting in him being picked to play for Richmond Football Club’s VFL side in July.
Oliver’s TAC Cup form improved after he was selected to play for Richmond Football Club’s VFL side. He finished with fifteen votes, more than Eastern Ranges striker Darcy Crocker and Northern Knights midfielder Jade Gresham combined.
He received fourteen votes in the remaining nine rounds, giving him fifteen votes. Additionally, the TAC Cup Team of the Year named him in the team’s trade spot. The Morrish Medal is awarded to the player considered the best and fairest player in the TAC Cup.
To win the Morrish Medal, he must collect fifteen votes. Additionally, he was awarded the John Byrne Medal for being the best and fairest player on the Murray Bushrangers team, winning eight votes ahead of Murray Waite.
Following his victories in the Morrish Medal and John Byrne Medal competitions, it was expected that he would be selected among the top twenty-five players in the draft.
He was invited to participate in the combined national repechage, and due to his good performances in the agility test, the 20-meter time trial and the three-kilometer time trial, his chances of being selected in the top 10 have increased significantly.
After Melbourne Football Club expressed significant interest in him in the days leading up to the draft, he was nominated for a top-five selection within weeks of selection. He was called the “draft bolter” in the weeks following the draft.
