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Clayton coach Oliver has praised his role in Melbourne’s strong start to the season and said he is “super proud” of how the Demons midfielder has bounced back from a tumultuous off-season.
Oliver was in the headlines all summer after approaching an exit during the trade period, before being hospitalized late last year.
The controversy surrounding the 26-year-old came as Melbourne grappled with questions about its culture after forward Joel Smith was suspended for testing positive for cocaine in October.
An off-season filled with controversy following back-to-back straight-set final exits would have doomed many AFL clubs, but Melbourne has so far thrived amid the chaos.