AFL 2024: Melbourne skipper Max Gawn opens up on his relationship with star midfielder Clayton Oliver
Melbourne captain Max Gawn can see how hard Clayton Oliver is working to become his ‘best self’ – but being so close to the star midfielder hasn’t been easy.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn has admitted to frustrations with Clayton Oliver, with the midfielder lying to the skipper during a “strong” two-year period.
Oliver’s personal issues became public late last year, when the Demons called for him to adhere to club standards.
He then took a break from pre-season training for personal reasons but has since returned and is on track to play early in the AFL season.
The star midfielder lived with Gawn for two weeks post-season, which Gawn said “felt like a couple of years”.
Gawn said he has been firm with Oliver at times in the past two years but has begun to “turn my opinion” on the onballer.
“As a captain we have had a tough relationship but I am starting to get really inspired, he has gone through some strong mental health stuff, he has been in and around some crossroads,” Gawn told Triple M.
“He has stuffed up and he has owned up to a lot of those stuffing ups. He has lied to me, he has told the truth, he has done everything you can in a little period.
“But you can see how hard he is working to become his best self. Let’s say he has two weeks of being his best self and maybe he is late to training or something like that and he just stuffs up, you can see how much that hurts and how much it breaks him and then he gets straight back on and tried to be his best self.”
Gawn said he was hoping Oliver “can beat” his mental challenges but the Demons would “keep him honest”.
“He has all our support, he obviously still has to live by our culture and our standards,” the captain said.
After defending Melbourne’s culture to the media on Monday, Gawn again said he was not aware of any drug culture within the club as the Sport Integrity Australia investigation into allegations of cocaine use and trafficking against Joel Smith continues.
He also backed Simon Goodwin as “one of the best coaches in the game” despite reports of concerns around his behaviour.
Through the fire: How Rioli found happiness after ‘very dark days’
Willie Rioli’s best footy comes when he’s happy according to his cousin Dean – but there was serious doubt he’d ever get back here. MATT TURNER tells the Port star’s story of perseverance.
Eight years since Port’s last loss to Sydney: Where are they now?
Port has the wood over Sydney – in fact, the Swans haven’t beaten the Power in eight matches. So where are the players from that Swans win in round 20, 2016, now?