A confrontational moment unfolded between Max Gawn, the captain of the Melbourne Demons, and key defender Steven May during the aftermath of their narrow one-point loss to Collingwood. The dramatic exchange took place right as the final siren sounded. With less than a minute to go, Gawn had an opportunity to drive the ball downfield but misfired, kicking directly into the hands of Collingwood’s Will Hoskin-Elliott, effectively sealing the Demons’ defeat.
Cameras captured the disappointment on Gawn’s face as May approached him, seemingly to discuss the uncharacteristic kick. In a moment of frustration, Gawn pushed May away and walked off. Young teammate Daniel Turner was seen attempting to mediate the situation, while May had earlier expressed his displeasure at first-year player Xavier Lindsay after he conceded a 50-metre penalty during the match.
Richmond legend Matthew Richardson weighed in on the incident, suggesting that while Gawn certainly recognised his error, May’s choice to confront him immediately was poorly timed. He advised that it would have been wiser to let Gawn cool off before addressing him. Veteran teammate Jake Lever echoed similar sentiments, describing the situation as a typical heat-of-the-moment reaction among competitive players. Lever jokingly acknowledged that such confrontations could be common and often stem from high emotions in critical moments.
In the wake of the loss, Gawn reportedly retreated into the backrooms, reflecting on the disappointment. Later, he spoke to Channel Seven’s Mitch Cleary, acknowledging both players’ competitiveness and the shared frustration over the misplaced kick. He admitted that his decision led to anger among his teammates and indicated that he and May would eventually resolve their differences, albeit not immediately.
Overall, the incident underlined the passionate nature of both players, highlighting their desire to win, with May remaining tight-lipped when approached by the media post-game.