Melbourne have been left “disappointed” after former star Clayton Oliver didn’t attend captain Max Gawn’s 250th celebration on Sunday, according to Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson.
The Demons celebrated their inspirational skipper’s milestone game in style with a stunning comeback from 43 points down to defeat Carlton in a thriller on Sunday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Clayton Oliber misses Max Gawn’s milestone game
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While all the fallout has centered on the Blues and their embattled coach Michael Voss, the Demons are also carrying a level of disappointment.
The club had invited a host of former players to celebrate with Gawn, who will go down as one of the club’s greatest ever players.
Sam Weideman, James Harmes, Jack Trengove, Jack Watts, Adam Tomlinson and Jeremy Howe were just a number of the familiar faces at the MCG and they all posed for a photo, alongside Gawn and fellow 250-gamer Tom McDonald.
But Oliver was a no-show despite being in Melbourne after the Giants had played two nights earlier at Marvel Stadium.
Oliver and Gawn had developed a close relationship at Melbourne with skipper constantly defending his younger teammate through a series of controversial off-field incidents.
Gawn even had Oliver live at his house at times.
“A lot of Max Gawn’s former teammates were invited back to the club, ” Wilson said on The Agenda Setters.
“One man who didn’t turn up, who was invited and expected to come, was Clayton Oliver.
“He was out on the town with some of his teammates on the Saturday night, which is absolutely fine, nothing wrong with that (GWS have the bye next week).
“But there was a level of disappointment from Melbourne.
“Max Gawn protected him, mentored him, stuck up for him … he did a lot of stuff for Clayton Oliver.
“It clearly didn’t take away from what happened in the second half, but I know Melbourne leaders were disappointed.
“He was back at the club early doors for another milestone game earlier in the year, just a level of disappointment that he didn’t turn up for the Melbourne football club.”
Oliver departed the Demons last year after a tumultuous finish to his time at the club.
Twelve months after a failed trade bid to join Geelong, Oliver was told by new coach Steven King his midfield opportunities would be limited despite a contract worth up to $1.3m per year over the next five seasons.
He eventually joined the Giants in effectively a salary dump trade.
The 28-year-old has made an encouraging start to life at GWS, averaging just over 30 disposals from his four matches.
He still hasn’t reached the heights that took him to four best and fairest awards at the Demons, but it’s definitely an improvement on his past few seasons.
In 2023 his professionalism was repeatedly questioned when he battled injury and form issues.
He took time away from the club ahead of the 2024 season, and at the end of that year he had a secret meeting with a group of Geelong senior players on the eve of the trade period.
The club was determined to keep him, and in 2025, there was some expectation Oliver might return to his best.
But he turned in an underwhelming season as Melbourne slumped to 14th on the ladder.
He was one of three big names to depart in the off-season with premiership teammate Christian Petracca traded to Gold Coast and defender Steven May retiring.
