Demons premiership hero Clayton Oliver reveals he was left in tears after being asked by Swans recruiter ‘Why are you so fat?’ in brutal AFL Draft interview
- Shocking incident unfolded in 2015
- Swans list boss Kinnear Beatson at fault
- Oliver was drafted by Demons same year
- Midfielder then won a premiership in 2021
Melbourne Demons premiership-winner Clayton Oliver has revealed the brutal moment he was asked ‘why are you so fat’ during an AFL draft interview.
Speaking on former AFL player Tommy Sheridan’s Ausmerican Aces podcast, the 25-year-old recalled his 2015 meeting in Sydney with long term Swans list boss Kinnear Beatson.
‘Walked in there, sat down, he’s looked me dead in the eyes and [Beatson said] ‘why are you so fat?’,’ the midfielder said.
‘First thing he said (was that), and I was like ‘oh, I’ve lost, like, five kilos’, he’s like ‘you probably need to lose a bit more, mate’, and then he just kept teeing off.’
The three-time All Australian then revealed Beatson wasn’t finished yet.
Melbourne Demons star Clayton Oliver has revealed a conversation with Swans list boss Kinnear Beatson in 2015 that made him cry
Beatson felt the midfielder was carrying too much weight and asked him directly ‘why are you so fat’ during an AFL Draft interview in 2015 (pictured, as a teenager playing for the Murray Bushrangers)
‘He said I can’t kick, I can’t run, couldn’t handball [with] my left hand, couldn’t handball with my right hand.
‘I literally just started crying. [I was] honestly, like, ‘why am I even here? You’re obviously not going to draft me’.
‘He’s just like, ‘we just wanted to quiz you, see how tough you are’, and I was like ‘well I’m not, mate’, and I just started crying. I got up and walked off.
‘I thought I was pretty mentally tough and he just broken me in about three minutes.’
Oliver had the last laugh, winning an AFL flag in 2021 with the Melbourne Demons
Oliver also detailed in the podcast how he faked a hamstring injury in an bid to bypass the combine beep test, as he was concerned it would hinder his draft hopes.
Now a Brownlow Medal candidate each season, Oliver would eventually be picked at No.4 overall by the Demons in the same 2015 National Draft.
He won a flag in 2021 and is widely considered one of the best players in the competition.
Ironically, Oliver will chalk up his 150th appearance in the AFL this Sunday against the Swans at the MCG.
It is safe to say Beatson – still employed by the Bloods as their General Manager of List Strategy and Recruitment – will be watching on intently.
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