MELBOURNE is confident star midfielder Clayton Oliver will be fit to take his place in Saturday night's clash against Adelaide despite leaving training after tightening up in the quad on Wednesday morning.
The Demons also expect spearhead Jesse Hogan to be available, despite the forward missing training with illness, while run-with player James Harmes, who had surgery to fix a broken hand on Monday, is also expected to play, coach Simon Goodwin says.
Oliver received some treatment through his upper right quad during training and after a discussion with the club's fitness staff it was decided that he be pulled out of training as a precaution.
"He was a little bit tight, Clayton," Goodwin said.
"Nothing abnormal, but we're really confident he's going to play.
"We haven't got too many concerns so he'll be out there on Saturday night."
Hogan was sick on Tuesday and was quarantined from the group on Wednesday with the Demons set to put him through some training later in the week.
Harmes went under the knife on Monday and as a result has been on light duties for much of this week.
"He won't do any ball work until Saturday so he's a wait and see at this point," Goodwin said.
"Once again he's progressed really well to this point, the surgeon's happy and it's all about the swelling coming out of the hand.
"We're confident that he'll play as well."
Michael Hibberd (quad) jogged laps as he targets a round 21 return, while in better news, defender Jayden Hunt (ankle) joined in full training and is expected to be available after the VFL bye this weekend.
Meanwhile, Goodwin addressed Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton's comments where he accused Melbourne of being a "gentleman's club".
Brereton made the assertion following Melbourne's heartbreaking two-point loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium last Saturday night.
"For me personally, it doesn't offend me, and being a gentleman's fine," Goodwin said.
"James Bond was a gentleman, but he was a killer as well."
Goodwin admitted he was bemused by the criticism Brereton levelled at veteran defender Bernie Vince.
A seemingly jovial Vince was seen with a smile on his face talking to former Adelaide teammate and Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield after the game.
"I am (perplexed)," Goodwin said.
"Because I see it every week in clubs that play footy and they lose big games.
"Bernie is a true competitor. He plays siren to siren and if people understood the friendship he's got with 'Danger' (Dangerfield) and the conversation that had taken place they would probably hold those comments back a little bit.
"Bernie loves this footy club and in the end it (the comments) were probably a little bit insulting."
