“I’m hoping he can beat it ... I personally haven’t had any mental health[challenges] or any real diagnosis,but there are a lot of people around me who have,and Clayton’s one of them,” Gawn told Triple M on Thursday in an interview where he was quizzed about the club’s challenges during the past three years.
“I know how hard it can be to get out of it,so he’s got all our support.
“He obviously still has to live by our culture and our standards,and we’ll keep him honest with that.
“So if there is stuff that does pop up,you will probably hear about it,or see it,but we’re hoping he has gotten to the better side now.”
Gawn reiterated Oliver was “inspiring” him by how hard he was working off the field. After a tumultuous off-season,Oliver impressed in a reserves hitout against Richmond on Sunday and has surged into consideration for Melbourne’s opening-round clash with Sydney.
“He’s been in and around some crossroads;he’s stuffed up,and he’s owned up to a lot of those stuffing-ups,” the premiership captain said.