AFL 2023: Fake tweet forces 7 reporter Mitch Cleary to clarify Clayton Oliver absence as Demons superstar speaks out
Melbourne star Clayton Oliver’s hamstring might not be right for next week’s clash with GWS – and it’s not the only think he’s had to worry about. Here’s the latest.
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Channel 7 reporter Mitch Cleary has been caught up in the Clayton Oliver rumours furore via a fake Twitter account.
Cleary was forced to post a statement on his official account after he was contacted by Melbourne about the content that was being spread on an account with his name attached.
The post claimed Oliver was missing games because of the AFL’s illicit drug policy which is something Demons coach Simon Goodwin strongly rebuked after Thursday night’s loss to Geelong.
Cleary posted the following message on his official account: “For the record – there is a fake tweet, photoshopped to mimic my account circulating about Clayton Oliver. It has never appeared on my Twitter account because it has nothing to do with me. I had no knowledge of it until I was contacted by Melbourne FC.
“7 News has since gone out of its way to report the club’s very strong denials in a bid to clear up this wild speculation.”
For the record - there is a fake tweet, photoshopped to mimic my account circulating about Clayton Oliver.
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) June 23, 2023
It has never appeared on my Twitter account because it has nothing to do with me.
I had no knowledge of it until I was contacted by Melbourne FC. (1/2)
Goodwin confirmed Oliver could miss another game with hamstring issues but angrily distanced himself was “rubbish” speculation about any link between his continued absence and behavioural issues.
The Demons star midfielder has been missing since Round 10 through the hamstring injury and a six-night stay in hospital because of an infected blister.
Oliver admits his hamstring is still “sore” as his hopes drift of a return against Greater Western Sydney next week.
The Demons passed up a gilt-edged chance to knock over reigning premiers Geelong at GHMBA Stadium but instead were overrun by the Cats.
Melbourne was forced to deny incorrect rumours about Oliver missing games because of behavioural issues on Thursday after weeks of social media speculation about his absence.
On Friday as he underwent scans in Melbourne on his sore hamstring he admitted it was disappointing to be dragged into the furore given it was internet fake news.
But he also made clear his hamstring was still not 100 per cent ready, with the Demons aware bringing him back too early could put paid to the rest of his home-and-away season.
He suffered the round 10 injury but has also spent five nights in hospital with an infected blister which set back his recovery timetable.
Oliver told friends this week he had reinjured his hamstring while training on Monday but the Demons are still hoping those scan results are clear.
“It’s a bit sore. A bit but I am getting there,” he told Channel 7 of his hamstring.
“(The controversy) hasn’t affected me too much. I am lucky it’s me, it’s not someone else.
“Mum and dad and nan and pop have seen all that so that’s a bit disappointing.
“The Melbourne football club is building such a great environment and good culture and it’s probably not something you want to be associated with.”
While clubs are not in the business of denying fake rumours they were so widespread on social media the club decided to act to stop them snowballing.
“There’s a lot been spoken about Clayton in the past 48 hours and a lot of it is incorrect,” Goodwin said.
“Clayton had a hamstring strain against Port Adelaide and then got an infected foot, spent six nights in hospital and as he’s come back into training in the past eight days, his hamstring is tight. He’ll have scans tomorrow.
“Anyone that thinks they know better than that, come and walk in our environment and find out.
“He’s off for a hamstring scan tomorrow and we’re hopeful he can continue to progress his training to a certain level, but he’s not quite there yet.
“That’s not the type of player that you risk. But for all the other rubbish that’s out there, it’s just garbage. So I hope we can put that one to bed.”
You know better? Goody slams ‘garbage’ Oliver rumours
— Jon Ralph
Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver could miss another game with hamstring issues as coach Simon Goodwin and the Demons angrily distanced themselves from ‘rubbish’ speculation about any link between his continued absence and behavioural issues.
The Demons star has been missing since round 10 after a minor hamstring issue, with this masthead revealing he could miss up to a month with the setback.
Oliver was running four days after the incident, with the Demons initially hopeful he might miss only a week before continual setbacks.
“There’s a lot been spoken about Clayton in the past 48 hours and a lot of it is incorrect,” Goodwin said after the loss to Geelong on Thursday night.
“Clayton had a hamstring strain against Port Adelaide and then got an infected foot, spent six nights in hospital and as he’s come back into training in the past eight days, his hamstring is tight. He’ll have scans tomorrow.
“Anyone that thinks they know better than that, come and walk in our environment and find out.
“He’s off for a hamstring scan tomorrow and we’re hopeful he can continue to progress his training to a certain level, but he’s not quite there yet.
“That’s not the type of player that you risk.
But for all the other rubbish that’s out there, it’s just garbage. So hope we can put that one to bed.”
He spent five days in hospital with an infected blister and this week trained well but was not selected to take on Geelong despite getting through the GMHBA Stadium captain’s run.
It is understood Oliver has simply not progressed to a level where the Demons are prepared to risk him in high-octane games given another setback could see him out for months.
He is set for more scans as part of a routine update on his hamstring after remaining in Geelong on Thursday where he was to spend the night in the coaches box assisting Adem Yze.
Oliver had told friends midweek his hamstring might have flared on Monday, but the Demons are hopeful the latest scans show that he has a clean bill of health.
Social media speculation about his absence reached fever pitch on Thursday with Melbourne
Football boss Alan Richardson forced to clarified on 3AW Radio that the only reason Oliver was absent was because of the hamstring injury.
“It’s going slower than we would like. It could be that he’s right to go next week but it might not be, so we just have to wait and see. But the other suggested reasons for him not playing are ridiculous and disappointing and bloody hard for Clayton and his family and friends to deal with.”
On Thursday, the Demons decided to address social media speculation about his absence, aware it would only snowball if they did not crack down on incorrect speculation about his absence.
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