Melbourne captain Max Gawn has provided an update on troubled teammate Clayton Oliver, revealing that the midfielder would be back on deck within the month.
Since the completion of the 2023 season, Oliver has been under fire, with media reports revealing a potential trade due to the 26-year-old's standards and behaviour, both inside and away from the club.
Oliver also spent a night in Footscray Hospital after suffering from what has since been diagnosed with a seizure after spending the night at the home of suspended teammate Joel Smith.
In the wake of this episode, Oliver was caught driving on a suspended license and departing the Demons' training camp at Lorne ahead of the Christmas period.
While Oliver's standards have been called into question by those inside and outside of Melbourne's four walls, Gawn claimed he was in regular contact with Oliver, and that the ball-magnet would resume training in January.
โFrom the last report, (Oliver) is going to join in around those January training sessions and hopefully we get a good version of Clarry for the rest of pre-season,โ Gawn told 7 News.
โI still regularly speak to Clarry, he has his ups and downs but I am just excited for him to get back training and amongst us guys.โ
Since joining the Redlegs with the fourth pick of the 2015 AFL Draft, Oliver has produced, time and again, on-field, racking up four Bluey Truscott Medals, three All-Australian blazers and a pair of AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Awards.
Oliver remains contracted at Melbourne until the cessation of the 2030 season and is expected to earn within the vicinity of $7 million across the life of the lengthy deal.
