Clayton Oliver reveals cause of trip to Footscray hospital
Melbourne star Clayton Oliver says a combination of factors contributed to his hospital dash earlier this month, while revealing the expectations the Dees had placed on him.
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Melbourne star Clayton Oliver has revealed he has ADHD, saying the medication he takes for the condition contributed to his trip to hospital earlier this month.
Oliver was rushed to Western Health’s Footscray hospital when he suffered a seizure while at embattled teammate Joel Smith’s house.
The Demons star midfielder, who has been put on notice by Melbourne for his behaviour, said it was a combination of the prescription drugs he has to take for his ADHD, a lack of sleep from stress and a big day at the gym that contributed to his fall when he hit his head at Smith’s house.
“It has been a little bit stressful, it doesn’t usually get to me,” he told Channel 7.
“I take medication for my ADHD so I have been talking to the doctor about that for a while.
“I have sort of been light-headed and high heart rate and that sort of affects me a fair bit and I sort of fainted off the watt bike.
“I was in bed sleeping at Joel’s and I got up to get a drink and then the next thing I know I was on the ground.”
Oliver was cleared of any serious head injuries after his trip to hospital.
There were concerns about Oliver’s behaviour in recent months.
This led to rival clubs believing the Demons could be willing to trade their star midfielder, with Melbourne eventually putting out a statement that said Oliver would remain at the club after some robust discussions.
Demons chief executive Gary Pert this week issued a strongly worded letter to members saying Oliver had “at times a detrimental and distracting impact” on the program and he will be required to meet “minimum behaviour expectations” on a regular basis as determined by the leadership and coaching group.
“Just a few minimum requirements of (being) a basic human being,” Oliver said of the expectations the club had of him.
Oliver said he would have accepted the decision by the Demons if they did decide to trade him, but he owed too much to coach Simon Goodwin to seek a move away from Melbourne.
“If they didn’t want me, yeah,” he said.
“Obviously I didn’t want to leave. I love the boys, I love the club, I love Goody. Goody has always looked after me and had my back.
“He does ride me pretty hard but in a good way, I think he just wants the best out of me, he probably does for everyone.
“I probably owe my career to him so I would never leave someone who has been so loyal to me.”
‘Isolated behavioural issues’: Pert speaks on Oliver, Smith, culture
– Glenn McFarlane
Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert is adamant the recent off-field incidents involving star midfielder Clayton Oliver and forward Joel Smith are “isolated behavioural issues” and are not reflective of the club’s broader culture.
The under-fire Demons have hit back at suggestions the issues involving the two players are part of a deeper concern regarding the group.
He again dismissed what the club calls “false” claims about coach Simon Goodwin’s own behaviour dating back almost three years.
In a strongly worded letter to members on Monday night, and in an interview with the Herald Sun, Pert said the club was not perfect, but he insisted he was extremely confident in the cultural programs it had in place as well as complete faith in the club’s leaders.
He said Oliver accepted he had “at times a detrimental and distracting impact” on the program and stressed he would be held to account on his professional standards “if he is to remain … long term.”
Pert also said:
• OLIVER will be required to meet “minimum behaviour expectations” on a regular basis as determined by the leadership and coaching group.
• GOODWIN had been under an “enormous strain” following allegations about his behaviour leading into the Demons’ 2021 premiership season, but had the complete support of the club’s board and the playing group
• THE club strongly backed the leadership of Max Gawn and fellow leaders in driving the culture and standards at the club
• CRITICISM of president Kate Roffey for her public silence was unfair as she was overseas for most of this month.
• HE understood that the recent player controversies had “in some cases damaged the trust between the club and you, our supporters,” but said the club leaders were committed to regaining that trust.
• THE club’s premiership window was still wide open, saying the Demons have the quality to make the top four in the next three seasons, despite bowing out in straight sets the last two seasons.
Pert said: “Unfortunately, a strong culture does not guarantee that we will not have isolated behavioural issues from time to time.”
“This is not a sign of a fractured culture, but an opportunity for our club leaders, including myself, to take responsibility and reaffirm our expectations of individuals in a high-performance environment.
“It is also important that the players who live our standards and disciplines every day see that those who fail to do so are held to account.”
The Demons have been beset by a number of issues that have created headlines in recent weeks.
There were concerns over Oliver’s behaviour in recent months, which included him being taken to Footscray Hospital emergency department after suffering a seizure.
It came against a backdrop of allegations made about Goodwin that the club has fiercely denied, saying they were “without basis or truth.”
Pert said the club’s leaders will hold Oliver to account following his commitment to ensure he meets the requirements and expectations of a professional athlete.
“Club leaders have very clearly outlined to Clayton the behavioural expectations that we have of him, and these behaviours will be reviewed on a regular basis,” Pert said.
“It is the player leadership group, as well as (football boss) Alan Richardson, Simon Goodwin and myself, who will decide if Clayton is meeting minimum behavioural expectations.”
“He, like every player, must meet our off-field club standards and disciplines if he is to remain as part of the program long term.
“Clayton has had his own challenges for the entire time he has been at the club, and we have our experts work alongside and in conjunction with his support team.
“Everyone would agree that he has had an amazing on field career up until this point.
“More recently it has been important to remind Clayton of the expectations of every player and he accepts that every player within a high performance culture needs to be accountable to the standards and disciplines and the decisions they make away from the club.
“He accepts that.
“We are providing really honest feedback … he accepts that he has at times been a detrimental and distracting impact on the program, and in a high-performance environment, you cannot afford to have that happen.”
Pert said of Smith: “Joel is aware that once Club leaders receive the results of the investigation, they will then determine if any further action is appropriate based on cultural standards and expectations.”
It is understood that the Demons leaders could deliver a club-imposed sanction on Smith, depending on the outcome of the investigation, of which the club is not involved in.
Pert defended Goodwin, saying the allegations had “placed an enormous stress and mental toll on Simon and his family over the last three years.”
“It is totally unacceptable, and it must stop.” Pert said.
“The only valid information was that Simon was seen having a drink with some of our player leaders at the Sorrento Hotel which was hardly surprising, given his strong relationship with the players who were holidaying in the area over the summer break.”
He insisted the club’s leadership group including Max Gawn and Jack Viney could not be held responsible for the actions of a few players.
“These leaders obsessively drive our culture every single day, and are a group committed to delivering future success,” he said.
“Overseeing the high-performance program are two of the most impressive culture-based leaders in the AFL in Alan Richardson and Simon Goodwin.
“Aligned to Alan and Simon are our senior player leaders Max Gawn, Jack Viney, Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw, Jake Lever, Alex Neal-Bullen and Christian Salem.
“They are driven and bolstered by our emerging leaders in Tom Sparrow, Kade Chandler and Charlie Spargo.”
Pert said the club was always aiming to be better in all aspects of its operations.
“In no way am I saying our programs are perfect, in fact there is no such thing,” he said. “We continually review our cultural programs throughout the year and post season.
“We will continue to evolve and move with the changing dynamics of our Club and the broader industry.”
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