AFL Opening Round: Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin confirms Clayton Oliver will play

After a difficult summer, Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver will join his teammates on the plane to Sydney this week – and coach Simon Goodwin couldn’t be more proud.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin says midfield star Clayton Oliver is “happy, healthy and ready” after putting a difficult off-season behind him to earn selection for the club’s massive Opening Round clash against Sydney.

Oliver didn’t train with teammates until the last week of January after he departed the club’s pre-Christmas camp in Lorne for personal reasons and stepped away from the game.

That came after he missed much of the 2023 season with hamstring issues and amid revelations he was dealing with significant off-field issues.

Goodwin said Oliver was ready to run out a full AFL game after two pre-season appearances in the VFL, and said he was proud of the 26-year-old for his dedication to training since his return to the club in January.

The four-time best and fairest will play alongside two debutants, with Goodwin confirming No. 7 pick Caleb Windsor and third-year defender Blake Howes would face the Swans.

“He’ll play, which is exciting for our footy club, it’s been a pretty long process post-season to first and foremost get Clayton healthy,” Goodwin said.

Clayton Oliver will play in Opening Round. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

“That has been a process, but it’s one we’ve undertaken as a footy club … he’s not finished, but he’s healthy, he’s happy, he’s ready.

“He’s done everything we could’ve asked of him as a footy club to get himself into this position and he’s right to go. We’re really proud of him.”

Goodwin said Oliver had been focused on “building trust” again with his teammates and club staff.

“I think there’s been a lot of noise externally and there’s a lot of information that’s already out there, but we’ve worked with the right people and the right program to get his health first and foremost in a place that’s really healthy and happy,” he said.

“He’s come a long way, and we’re excited about him being back in our team.

Oliver with Demons coach Simon Goodwin last month. Picture: Michael Klein

“He’s just been going about his business, about building trust and respect back with the football club, with his teammates and gone about that in a really positive way … we’ve had a few conversations about what (his comeback) would look like, but there’s been no guarantees along the way – it’s been up to him to show us, and he’s been able to do that.”

Goodwin said key forward Harrison Petty was “still probably a few weeks away” as he battled a toe injury, but confirmed Windsor and Howes along with St Kilda recruit Jack Billings would be named to face the Swans.

“Caleb makes his debut, Blake Howes will play his first game for the footy club and so will Jack Billings … we’ve got three guys there who are really exciting players for our footy club and guys who I think our supporters will love to come and watch,” Goodwin said.

Wingman Lachie Hunter (three to four weeks) and Adelaide recruit Shane McAdam (two weeks) will both face delayed starts to the season with lingering calf concerns, Goodwin confirmed.

Melbourne will kick off the season on Thursday against the Swans, a clash that will see Brodie Grundy play against the Demons for the first time after his failed one-year experiment playing alongside Max Gawn in 2023.

Originally published as AFL Opening Round: Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin confirms Clayton Oliver will play