Demons coach Simon Goodwin rejects 'drug culture' suggestions over Joel Smith as Clayton Oliver set to make AFL return

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin insists the AFL club does not have a drug culture, despite Joel Smith’s anti-doping case casting a shadow over the Demons’ premiership pursuit.

Sports Integrity Australia (SIA) last month charged Smith with three anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code over alleged “trafficking or attempted trafficking” of cocaine to third parties.

Smith has also been notified of another ADRV for possession of cocaine on September 9, 2022.

The defence of the club came as Goodwin confirmed another troubled Demons star, Clayton Oliver, would play against Sydney in the AFL’s blockbuster season opening game on Thursday.

Smith has been suspended since October, when he was notified of a positive cocaine test following the Demons’ round-20 win over Hawthorn on August 20.

The SIA investigation into Smith is ongoing. He faces a minimum four-year ban if found guilty of trafficking or attempted trafficking.

The 27-year-old’s troubles came as close friend and star midfielder Oliver battled personal health issues over the off-season before reintegrating with the Demons’ training program in January.

Goodwin kept a low profile over the summer but addressed the media ahead of the Demons’ season-opening clash at the SCG and rejected suggestions of a drug culture at the club.

“We’ve had some challenges, yes, and we’ve been pretty open about those challenges with Joel and in a different way Clayton,” Goodwin said on Monday.

“But no, we haven’t got a culture in that (drug) space. What we have got a culture of is high performance.

“We’ve addressed the challenges that we’ve had, but we’ve also gone after what we really value - and that’s a high-performing culture.

“You’ll see a team that will train really fiercely today and hopefully you’ll see a team on the weekend that plays that way as well.”

Goodwin said he had spoken to Smith and received an apology from the 27-year-old, who has played 42 games for the Demons over the last seven seasons.

“I’ve spoken to Joel and he’s apologised in terms of his actions and clearly there’s a cleansing (aspect to it),” Goodwin said.

“What I do know is he’s got a lot of support from this footy club, and has had the whole way through.

“It’s an ongoing investigation that will play out in time but all the people that are important have spoken to Joel.”

Goodwin said he is convinced Oliver is ready to go and is proud of the four-time best-and-fairest winner’s progress.

“It’s been a pretty long process to first and foremost get Clayton healthy. That has been a process, but it’s one that we’ve taken as a footy club,” Goodwin said on Monday.

“We’ve addressed some things and we’ve gone about a process to get him to this point. It’s not finished but he’s healthy, he’s happy and he’s ready.

“We’re united and connected as a footy team and that’s been a big part of our summer. He’s a big part of that.

Oliver missed 10 weeks with a hamstring injury last year and was the subject of post-season trade speculation.

He was hospitalised after a medical episode in October and left a December pre-season camp early because of personal reasons.

Oliver then spent most of January training away from his teammates and Goodwin admits he had serious doubts at that stage whether the ball magnet would get back in time for the start of the season.

“There was no guarantees on anything. There was certainly some doubts on whether he’d get himself to this position,” Goodwin said.

“He’s worked incredibly hard with a lot of people, with a lot of support from people within our footy club and some external people, and got himself into a really happy and healthy place, and fit.

“He’s looking really strong out there at training, he’s looked strong in the match sims that we’ve had out there in the VFL and we should be proud and celebrate where he’s got to at this point.

“But we know those challenges aren’t finished.

“But we are united, we are connected and he’s a part of our footy team and we’re really proud of him.”

First-round draft pick Caleb Windsor and 2021 draftee Blake Howes will debut against Sydney, with former St Kilda midfielder Jack Billings also set to play his first game for Melbourne.

Goodwin’s responses to questions about a drug culture at Melbourne were in line with club captain Max Gawn and football boss Alan Richardson, who both denied a problem exists at the Demons.

Late last year, Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert said the club culture was “the best I’ve seen in 40 years” in football.