Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca has admitted he lost trust in teammate Clayton Oliver for a period of time, but also explained the inroads he’s made in earning it back.
Oliver’s tumultuous off-season has been well-documented, but even despite it, he worked his way back into game-shape to play in Opening Round against Sydney.
In Melbourne’s 22-point loss to the Swans, Oliver was at his prolific ball-winning best, collecting an equal-game-high 30 disposals.
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On Tuesday night’s edition of Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Mark Robinson quizzed Petracca about a Monday report by Caroline Wilson stating Petracca and other senior Demons players had lost trust in Oliver after his off-field indiscretions.
“I have not spoken to Caroline Wilson, and never have spoken to her,” started Petracca in response.
“Yeah, I have (lost trust), a little bit in some way, but not in the last 10 or 11 weeks.
“He’s earnt that trust back significantly, and it’s hard to just put Clayton in that situation and put him as the poster boy because of all the stuff that’s been documented away from the game.”
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Amidst the saga surrounding Oliver, the 28-year-old Petracca said he’s learned the value of absolution.
“As I said before, the mountain of the work he’s done over the last eight or nine weeks is a credit to him. The thing that I’ve learnt over the last seven or eight weeks is the power of forgiveness.
“People, in their lives, are going to have stuff going on — big or small — and people are going to make mistakes. We’re human beings, it’s just going to happen. I think from that point of view, the ability to understand what Clayton’s going through (is important). How can we help him? (How) can he lean on us to help him in (those) situations?
“The power of vulnerability as well, opening up to us and talking to us … He’s going to make mistakes, we’re all going to make mistakes, I’m going to make mistakes.”
Petracca, inspired by his mate’s comeback, conceded he didn’t expect Oliver to be in a position to start Melbourne’s season.
“And, yeah, he probably did, lost a bit of trust in some of the playing group, but the way he’s earnt that back over the last eight or nine weeks has been pretty inspirational, to be honest.
“I’m not going to lie; I didn’t think he was going to play Round Zero or Round 1 and to do that, and just the way he looks and how healthy he (has been) over the last seven weeks has been awesome.”
Petracca, Oliver and the Demons will look to right their ship against the Western Bulldogs this Sunday at the MCG.
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