Max Gawn has addressed speculation regarding Clayton Oliver’s absence from his 250th game celebration against Carlton, which took place on Sunday.
Caroline Wilson reported that the Melbourne Demons were disappointed with Oliver for not attending despite his invitation. Oliver, who was recently traded to GWS, was on a bye week during this time. The frustration from the club reportedly stems from the bond between Gawn and Oliver, as Gawn has been both a teammate and mentor to him.
Despite Oliver’s absence, several former Demons, including Collingwood’s Jeremy Howe and premiership player Michael Hibberd, attended the milestone celebration. Gawn refuted claims of animosity towards Oliver, explaining that Oliver had fallen ill just before the event. Gawn noted, “He actually changed his flight to come… he was making a massive effort.” Instead, he emphasised the support and pride Oliver expressed for him over the weekend.
Gawn shared insights from their conversations, asserting that Oliver’s decision to miss the game was justified given his condition. The 28-year-old midfielder’s departure from Melbourne had been tumultuous, with the new coach, Steven King, suggesting he should seek a move during the trade period. Oliver’s new journey at GWS has been promising, as he has started the season strong, though he has made comments indicating a more rigorous training regime with the Giants.
In Gawn’s landmark match, the Demons staged an impressive comeback, overcoming a 43-point deficit to defeat Carlton 99-33. Gawn attributed the victory to his team’s resilience rather than Carlton’s struggles, saying, “I understand the narrative around Carlton, but I thought we were pretty good.”
Looking ahead, the Demons will face Gold Coast at the MCG in round four, where they had anticipated the return of teammate Christian Petracca. However, Petracca is expected to be sidelined for about a month due to a hamstring injury sustained in round two.