Melbourne captain Max Gawn on Clayton Oliver’s ongoing “challenges” and potential return

Melbourne captain Max Gawn has opened up on teammate Clayton Oliver who remains away from the club as he battles “challenges”.

Max Gawn with Clayton Oliver. Picture by Michael Klein

Melbourne captain Max Gawn says he’s in “daily dialogue” with troubled midfielder Clayton Oliver conceding his return to the club is in “other people’s hands”.

The five-time All-Australian also scoffed at debate over the non-publication of player weights in the official AFL guide declaring not even his coach knows how much he weighs.

For the first time, and in consultation with the league’s health and wellbeing unit, player weights won’t be published alongside their height and birthdate in the AFL season guide.

The move was rebuked as “soft” among other criticisms but Gawn said it was never correct in the first place and was redundant in the modern game.

“There’s no need for it in the first place,” Gawn said on Triple M’s Marty Sheargold Show.

“If I come up against a young ruck, I don’t know. If they are strong they are 100kgs, if they are lean and fit they are probably under 100.

“I’ve been the same weight in the booklet since I got drafted and my weight has changed 10 times. We don’t stand on the scales every year for the AFL.

Gawn emerges from the surf. Picture: Brendan Beckett

“There is a standard we want to be and between you, your high performance manager and your dietitian you will come up with a peak performance body you want to be.

“But you are the only three people who know that. Not even Goody (coach Simon Goodwin) would know what my weight is or what my skinfolds are.”

Gawn said in the past players returning from the off-season overweight would be sent to “fat club” which created “anxiety”,

“I get we’re elite performers are elite athletes and we should be keeping our bodies to a certain level, but that doesn’t help,” he said.,

“If I come back top-heavy I will feel bad and get through it with our high-performance coach and dietician.”

Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver during Melbourne training. Picture by Michael Klein

Gawn said he was continuing to support four-time club best and fairest winner Oliver who has taken extended leave from the club as he continues to manager personal issues which forced him to miss the return to pre-season training.

“He’s had his challenges especially over the last couple weeks.” Gawn said.

“I’m still in dialogue with Clayton most days. We all just want the best version of Clayton possible, If that’s being in and around the football club, come tomorrow we’ll have the best time ever.

“If it’s to have a bit of time away and work on himself I’m also supportive of that.”

“Right now it’s in other people’s hands … hopefully we get him back soon.”

Originally published as Melbourne captain Max Gawn on Clayton Oliver’s ongoing “challenges” and potential return