Melbourne’s Steven May has been handed a three-game suspension by the AFL tribunal following a controversial incident during a match against Carlton last weekend. The 33-year-old defender was penalised for a hit on Carlton’s Francis Evans, which resulted in Evans being bloodied and substituted out of the game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The incident was classified by the Match Review Officer (MRO) as careless, involving severe impact and high contact. May entered a plea of not guilty, asserting that his actions were not unreasonable. Despite his defence, he will miss key matches against St Kilda, West Coast, and the Western Bulldogs due to the suspension.
During the tribunal proceedings, May expressed his belief that he was positioned to win the ball and couldn’t avoid the contact with Evans. “I just can’t believe I didn’t take possession,” he remarked, conveying his shock at the outcome. The AFL countered this assertion, stating that May breached his “duty of care” and should have been able to adjust his movement to prevent the collision.
Melbourne attempted to introduce a text message exchange between May and Evans as evidence, but the AFL sought to have it dismissed due to the timing of its submission. Ultimately, the tribunal upheld May’s suspension after a thorough deliberation.
Following the ruling, AFL legend James Hird voiced sympathy for May, noting that the disciplinary standards have evolved over time. “I feel for Steven May – this is a really difficult one,” Hird commented on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show. He highlighted that, in earlier years, such an incident likely would not have warranted a suspension, indicating the shift in the league’s approach to player safety.
May’s suspension means he is expected to make his return for the Demons’ match against Hawthorn on August 16.