Melbourne have condemned “ridiculous and disappointing” rumours that star midfielder Clayton Oliver is lacking AFL video games for causes apart from harm.
Oliver has not performed since spherical 10, sidelined by a hamstring harm and a five-day stretch in hospital due to an contaminated blister on his foot.
The stint out of motion has sparked a collection of rumours that Demons soccer boss Alan Richardson sought to handle publicly earlier than Friday night time’s conflict with Geelong.
The rumours recommend Oliver’s absence is because of points together with his behaviour and professionalism.
But Richardson mentioned Oliver’s hamstring has been slower than anticipated to heal, the difficulty exacerbated by time spent mendacity flat in a hospital mattress.
Oliver may have one other scan on the troublesome hamstring on Friday and is not any certainty to play in subsequent week’s recreation in opposition to GWS.
“It’s probably not surprising when you have an infection interruption, you’re in bed for a week, you’re in a horizontal position … things tend to tighten up again,” Richardson informed 3AW radio.
“So it’s going slower than what we’d like and we’ll get that looked at.
“It might be that he is proper to go subsequent week however he may not be. We’ll simply have to attend 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.”
Richardson mentioned it has been not possible for Oliver to disregard the continuing rumours however mentioned the 25-year-old “seems OK” mentally.
“I’ve spoken to him about it, he’s frustrated, he just wants to get out and play,” Richardson mentioned.
“He sees that as the answer and he’s probably right. As I said, that might not happen as quickly as he’d like.
“We’re hoping that he’ll be proper subsequent week however he is an absolute fanatic relating to getting ready his physique. He leaves no stone unturned.”
Oliver had missed only one recreation in virtually six-and-a-half seasons earlier than sustaining the hamstring harm throughout a loss to Port Adelaide in spherical 10.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
