Melbourne captain Max Gawn can’t guarantee he and Clayton Oliver will be teammates in 2026

Clayton Oliver met with rival clubs last pre-season but stayed with Melbourne, and while new reports have emerged he wants out again, his captain has responded.

Melbourne captain Max Gawn has dismissed reports superstar midfielder Clayton Oliver wants out of the club, again, calling it a “beat up in May” but couldn’t guarantee they would be teammates in 2026.

Oliver didn’t make the trip to Perth with his teammates for Saturday’s clash with West Coast after being given a break from the club after “a difficult week personally”.

It moved to reignite speculation the 27-year-old, who is contracted to the Demons until 2030 on a deal worth upwards of $1.5m a year, wanted a fresh start.

Oliver met with players and officials from Geelong during the off-season but Melbourne had no interest in letting him go and he stated his commitment to the club.

Gawn, who opened his house to Oliver during a turbulent 2024, said things could change at the end of the season but his focus was on his teammate being happy.

“Clayton, there’s going to be stories about him until we are done,” Gawn said on Monday.

“He made a very mature decision to spend the week off this week. It’s been a big eight weeks for him ... he felt like he was getting a bit overwhelmed and wanted a week off.

Max Gawn is in Clayton Oliver’s corner. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“For his future, I am week by week with Clayton and the club. All I care is about him getting up for Hawthorn, doing it with a smile on his face, and whatever happens at the end of the year happens.”

Gawn said he and his teammates would continue to support Oliver, not react to weekly news items, knowing any decisions made now “could change by August”.

“I’ve lived with a lot of these stories. Some stay, some go,” he told Mick in the Morning on Triple M.

“It’s all a beat-up in May. I could make a decision … that could change by August. The May story is really nothing.

“I’m going to pretend it hasn’t been written. Nothing to see here. He’s coming over for a sauna tonight.”

Oliver was given the rest after an “open dialogue” with the club but is expected to be available for this weekend’s clash with Hawthorn.