Clayton Oliver didn’t know he couldn’t drive after seizure

Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver has avoided a conviction after he was caught driving while suspended, saying he didn’t know “one head knock” meant he couldn’t drive.

Clayton Oliver has avoided a conviction after he was caught driving while suspended. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Melbourne star Clayton Oliver has been spared conviction for driving while suspended after claiming he had not opened a letter notifying that he could not get behind the wheel.

Oliver, 26, on Tuesday instead copped a $600 fine after admitting driving while his licence was suspended on medical grounds when he was pulled over by police on Moorhouse St in Camberwell on November 16.

The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard the Demons midfielder’s licence had been suspended six days earlier after he was hospitalised for a seizure the previous month but he had not yet opened the letter.

“I wasn’t aware that I was suspended, I was aware I wasn’t insured and if I crashed I would be liable for everything,” Oliver told police when he was pulled over.

“I didn’t think having one seizure from having a head knock accounted for having my licence suspended.”

Oliver did not appear in court on Tuesday due to a medical appointment, instead represented by his lawyer Sally Vardy who said he had been advised by club doctors he should not drive but did not think it constituted a formal ban.

“He accepts he misunderstood the medical advice,” she said.

Clayton Oliver returned to training last week. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Ms Vardy said the premiership player had not driven since the incident, instead relying on ride share apps, carpooling and friends and family for lifts.

She said he was waiting for a medical assessment which would clear him to drive in the next few months.

The court heard Oliver had one other driving matter from 2016 but this was his first court proceeding.

Magistrate Barry Johnstone fined him $600 without conviction and said he should have accepted his club’s advice.

“He’s in charge of a lethal weapon when he drives a car and when a medical practitioner says to him you shouldn’t be driving there is a reason behind that,” he said.

“People of otherwise good character do stupid things in cars and this was a stupid thing.”

Oliver, who had been put on notice by Melbourne for his behaviour, was at teammate Joel Smith’s home when he had a seizure and hit his head that saw him rushed to Footscray hospital on October 16.

He was cleared of any serious head injuries but only returned to training last week after an extended period of leave from mid-December to deal with personal issues.

Last year was tumultuous for Oliver who battled injury and numerous off-field issues.

He was the subject of major speculation during trade week despite recently signing a new seven-year $7m deal.