May was spun around more than 360 degrees in a tackle against North Melbourne before going to ground, with May then pushing his own head into the turf and grabbed it as if he had been hurt.
"I don't think he's the first player to ever try and get a free kick given to him, so clearly he's a bit embarrassed by the situation but I think some of the talk has been a bit much," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said in May's defense.
"If you know Steven's character and his competitiveness ... he plays the game to the highest level, and I think one of the things that's been missed from the weekend."
Steven May signs a two-year contract extension, keeping him at Melbourne until the end of 2025.
"Steven is an incredible asset for us. He has become a key pillar of our team structure and, with his high-level footy IQ, is continuing to push his own boundaries while helping develop those around him," Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb said.
"We look forward to what Steven can bring to the team over these next three seasons."
Clayton Oliver creates history, joining Demon legends Allan La Fontaine and Jim Stynes as just the third player to win a fourth Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy as the club's best and fairest for 2022.
Oliver stormed home to poll 608 votes, comfortably clear of fellow midfielder Christian Petracca (553) in second and defender Steven May (473).
The AFL completes its enquiry into the incident involving a physical altercation between Steven May and Jake Melksham and decides to take no further action beyond the Demons' club-imposed sanctions.
Melbourne suspended Steven May for one-match and ordered community service work for both May and Melksham.
"The AFL wishes to reinforce that no matter the situation or circumstances, violence is never the answer. As professional footballers, as people, we expect better," a statement from the AFL said.
Jake Melksham has required a second surgery on the infected hand he injured in his alcohol-fuelled restaurant fight with Melbourne teammate Steven May.
"He's got a pretty bad infection. He's had it washed out once under surgery and he had it again yesterday," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.
"He's had two doses of surgery, it's been washed out twice, the infection was pretty bad. It is a serious infection and one we need to get on top of."
The AFL's integrity department will conduct its own investigation into the Sunday night fight between Demons Steven May and Jake Melksham.
"No matter what the situation or circumstances, violence is never the answer. As professional footballers, as people, we expect better and while the club has taken the matter extremely seriously, the AFL is currently conducting its own investigation," a statement from the AFL said.
Steven May admits to playing with a hamstring tear in the 2021 Grand Final on his way to becoming a premiership player with the Demons.
"I got a scan and a chose not to be told about the result because I wanted to just give myself every chance to play," May said.
"I thought maybe I've been carrying on a little bit about this injury, but then in the second quarter I hurt it again and thought there's something there. I just carried on. I didn't speak to the doctors or the physios, because I didn't want to be ruled out. And then it wasn't until after the game our doctor told me."
Steven May is finally set to play in his first final after eleven seasons as an AFL footballer.
May admitted that he'd previously harboured some doubt about whether relocating to Melbourne was the right call.
"That first year we came 17th, I missed about 12 weeks through injury. It did not go to script. It didn't go as planned in the first few years, for a range of reasons, but I've developed as a person and our team has developed," May said.
"It kind of feels like I'm getting a bit of reward for my decision but it doesn't really mean much until you're ultimately holding up the cup."
Steven May is set to be sidelined for up to a month, having suffered a fractured right eye socket and a concussion as a result of a gruesome collision during Melbourne's victory over Geelong.
May was taken straight to hospital after catching a stray elbow from Cats spearhead Tom Hawkins, which left the in-form defender with blood streaming from his eye region and with significant swelling in the area.
Coming off a second-place finish in the Demons' best and fairest in 2020, defender Steven May wants to improve in improving his work in one-on-one contests to take his game to the next level.
"I don't lose too many contests, but I don't win them either and that's something that will take me into the elite group of modern-day defenders," May said.
Steven May has played all of the Demons' 14 matches in 2020 so far and is in career-best form.
After a career punctuated by injuries, lack of form, and controversy, May credits a stern talk by Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin for his turnaround in form.
"He got me down to the club and I thought he had my back, but he just hit me between the eyes and told me I needed to start owning up to my actions," May said about Goodwin.
"I thought I needed someone to put an arm around me, but he just wanted to be honest. We had a hard talk, man to man, and he said he was behind me and wanted to support me."
Steven May suffers another delay to his pre-season after undergoing another procedure on his troublesome knee.
"Unfortunately, Steven had some fluid build-up within the existing wound last week which was causing him some discomfort," Demons head of football Josh Mahoney said.
"We expect Steven to be back running next week and we're confident this is only a minor hiccup."
The addition of a Pilates instructor, extra yoga work and an early return to pre-season is all part of Steven May's plan to bounce back to full fitness in 2020 after a frustrating run of injuries in 2019.
"As I was trying to get fit, my body just couldn't keep up with the demands," May said about his 2019 season.
"The most frustrating (thing), I got myself really fit and in the best position I've been in and then I do a hammy, then I do another one and I was like 'Why is this happening to me?'
"I think when you're playing catch up all year something has to give."
Steven May's frustrating 2019 season is over re-straining his hamstring in his first game back since round 18.
"It's really frustrating for Steven, first and foremost. He's put in a lot of work, and got himself in some really good condition physically to play some really good footy," Demons coach Simon Goodwin said.
"He's (27), he's done a lot of work on his body throughout the season to get in some really good shape, and he's played some really strong footy for us in the five or six games he's played.
"We're really confident in what he's going to be able to deliver for our footy club (next year and beyond)."
Sidelined with a groin injury since round two, Steven May was seen spending a Sunday afternoon drinking at a Melbourne bar.
May avoided a club sanction but fronted his teammates on Tuesday morning to explain his actions.
"Steven May has been dealing with some personal issues for a period of time now ... he made a poor decision on the weekend to go to a pub," Demons head of football Josh Mahoney said.
"It's not a good look for him and not in line with ... the standards we're trying to set as a footy club. He's acknowledged that this is a poor decision that he's made."
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin expresses says Steven May's pre-season fitness level was unacceptable.
"He walked in and he certainly knew he had a bit of work to do, based on the standard that we had as a footy club," Goodwin told SEN.
"He's worked incredibly hard from that point where he walked in to actually get himself into some really good shape. I'm probably disappointed for him, because he's put the work in and now has these niggles to go with it.
"He'll get his rewards if he keeps working hard and stays in good shape. But he certainly won't be coming back to pre-season in that nick again, that's for sure."
Demon club ambassador Bernie Vince Steven May is in the best shape of his career since arriving at Melbourne.
"His skinfolds probably weren't great when he came to the footy club, but he's improved his running heaps," Vince said.
"It's exciting, given that he was a great player when he probably wasn't in the best shape he could have been previously, and now he's flying. His potential could be anything this year."
Tom McDonald says new Melbourne teammate Steven May is fitting in well at the club.
"Compared to new guys who are younger he's got more of a voice and had more of an impact, but we don't really expect that from him," McDonald said.
"We just want him to come in and play good footy, add his experience where he can, but we don't want him to feel like he has to be a captain at this club because that's not why we got him here."
Melbourne recruit Steven May says he is looking forward to playing against his former Suns co-captain, and Tiger recruit, Tom Lynch in 2019.
"We were talking about the Anzac Day Eve game. He said he was looking forward to playing on me, but I said I'd probably be playing on the best forward and that's Jack Riewoldt," May said.
"There's a bit of banter going on, but for him as well it's an exciting time. We're obviously great mates and we're living pretty close to each other, so I can't wait."
Steven May explains why he chose to play for the Demons ahead of other suitors, such as Collingwood.
"It just came down to that feel. I just felt like the opportunity for success at Melbourne, paired with their coaching staff and their playing list, it was the right fit for me," May said.
Gold Coast say a trade deal would be too hard to complete should Steven May delay his choice any longer.
May, who is contracted through until the end of 2019, is yet to indicate to Gold Coast that he is seeking a move to Victoria during this month's NAB AFL Trade Period.
"He still hasn't asked us for a trade, so we're in a holding pattern there. He's contracted, so we hope he'll be at the club next year," Gold Coast list boss Craig Cameron said.
"I would've thought if it went too much longer, it becomes too hard to do if anything was to happen."
Gold Coast list manager Craig Cameron says any club would be hard pressed to come up with adequate compensation in a trade for Steven May who is still contracted to the Suns.
May hasn't yet requested a trade but has met with four Victorian clubs – understood to be Melbourne, Collingwood, Hawthorn and Essendon.
The Demons are keen to bolster their backline before a premiership bid next season, and appear to be frontrunners after meeting with May twice.
"Sitting back where we are looking at the clubs that Alex McDonald, Steven's manager, has told us they’ve spoken to, I look at that and try to work out how they think they could possibly get us to come to the table," Cameron said.
"I know there's a lot of things going on with Melbourne that I'm not privy to, but right at the moment I don't see how anyone can come and recompense us enough to let go of Steven one year early."
Steven May says he wants to assess all of his options before making a decision on his future, and insists he has not told the Suns that he wants to leave.
May still has one year remaining on his contract, but speculation around his future persists.
"I haven't said I'm leaving, I've just said that if I'm going to sign a long-term deal I just need to assess all of my options because it's probably one of my last contracts," May said.
"I want a long-term deal, so I just want to do the due diligence and speak to the necessary parties and then sit down with the club and make a decision."
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew is supremely confident his co-captain Steven May will still be at the club in 2019.
Despite reported interest for May from Collingwood, Dew said there was no desire to move May on before he too became a free agent in 12 months.
"As far as we're concerned, he's our player next year. He's our captain and very important," Dew said.
Dew admits Gold Coast are keen to know as soon as possible what May intends to do beyond 2019.
"We've said 'we know you're out of contract at the end of next year, we'd just love to know as soon as possible where you see your career after that'," Dew said.
"We want to know 'are you here for the long haul? What's your view?'"
Tom Lynch and Steven May will again co-captain Gold Coast in 2018.
Ruckman Jarrod Witts and midfielder Pearce Hanley have been added to a leadership group that again contains David Swallow, Matt Rosa, Michael Barlow and Touk Miller.
Michael Rischitelli has stepped aside from the role.
"Both Tom and Steven have been extremely invested in the program since my arrival," Suns head coach Stuart Dew said.
"The eight-man leadership group will work closely with myself and the entire football department to ensure we can create an environment that is aligned to our values and provides the best possible opportunity for growth both on and off the field."
Out of contract Gold Coast captain Steven May concedes he has a lot to think about in considering his future, and expects negotiations to progress in the next month.
"I think anyone coming out of contract has a lot to weigh up because you commit your future to the footy club," May said.
"I wouldn't say I've been hesitant, it's just been a plan of action for 18 months.
"I don't know the timeframe but I wouldn't say it would be the end of the season.
"I'm sure in the next month or so my manager and the club will be in talks for sure."
Gold Coast remains confident out-of-contract co-captain Steven May will re-sign despite reports the key defender is being chased by a group of Victorian clubs led by Hawthorn.
"Steven said publically about four or five weeks ago it's just a matter of it getting done. He's had a few things off-field that he's searching through, working through, and we're giving him time on that," Suns coach Rodney Eade said.
"So, from our point of view, we don't think it's too far away."
Six years in the making, the QClash rivalry is now genuine and Gold Coast co-captain Steven May is happy to wear the villain's tag.
"Maybe it was a little bit manufactured early on. Through various circumstances, the rivalry has lifted and I think personally it's great for the code," May said.
"I'm a little bit of a villain now. The last few years it's definitely built and it's building into a bit of a tradition."
Steven May admits his heart skipped a beat when his shoulder clipped the chin of Western Bulldogs forward Tom Boyd during the final game of the JLT Community Series.
When Boyd hit the ground, May feared he may once again fall foul of the Match Review Panel and be forced to sit out the QClash against the Brisbane Lions in round one.
Having served five weeks' suspension for shirt fronting Lions ruckman Stefan Martin in round four last year May had held his arms up and tried his best to avoid Boyd.
"He [Boyd] had himself opened up so I tried to pull out," May said.
However, as his shoulder clipped Boyd's chin like a high jumper just failing to clear the bar, May momentarily panicked.
"When I saw him on the ground, because it was completely accidental, I was just like 'No, no, no, not [again]'… obviously last year was stupid [but] this year was an accident," May said.
"I was a little bit nervous because it was a Thursday game and the Match Review Panel wasn't until Monday but I was very happy [to be in the clear]."
Jarrod Harbrow and Gary Ablett are dropped from the Suns' leadership group for 2017.
Harbrow and Ablett are replaced by off-season recruit Michael Barlow and midfielder Touk Miller.
Michael Rischitelli, Matt Rosa and David Swallow have held their spots in the group, alongside co-captains Steven May and Tom Lynch.
"Michael Rischitelli, Matt Rosa and David Swallow are already established leaders at our football club and in Michael and David's case they've been playing that role for some time," Suns coach Rodney Eade said.
"Similar to Matty Rosa last year, Michael Barlow has made an immediate impact on the playing group, leading by example on and off the field, and his elevation to the player leadership group demonstrates the influence he has had on the team in a relatively short period of time."
Gold Coast names Tom Lynch and Steven May as co-captains ahead of the 2017 season.
The pair replaces Gary Ablett, who recently stepped down as skipper after six seasons at the helm, having unsuccessfully requested a trade back to Geelong at the end of this season.
"The one outstanding thing is the respect they've got of their teammates, so when they speak, the players listen," Suns coach Rodney Eade said.
"They've got a great ability to not only demand standards and challenge their teammates, but they've got good empathy. That's really stood out."
Lynch said having Ablett on the field alongside him in 2017 would be a huge help to both he and May.
"Gary's been fantastic for us and I know we'll have to lean on him at certain stages," Lynch said.
May went a step further, saying he couldn't imagine taking over the role without Ablett as a teammate.
"Having Gaz still around to help us with the transition is great. If he were to retire or leave, we wouldn't have that captain around," May said.
Ahead of his return from a five-game suspension, Steven May pleads with the footy community to not judge him purely on the bump that knocked out Brisbane Lion Stefan Martin.
"I didn't want the wider football world to judge me purely on that, and that's all they have to go off because they don't know me personally," May said.
"I was embarrassed about that because people are going to call me what they like and they can only judge me off my actions.
"My job now is to build respect back by the way I play football and the way I conduct myself in the community.
"The world's not over, I've got a chance, I'm not finished, and I look forward to building that respect back."
Steven May is handed a five-match ban by the Tribunal for his bump on Brisbane Lions ruckman Stefan Martin.
In a testy hearing that lasted 90 minutes, the 22-year-old invited the Tribunal to hand him a significant penalty by pleading guilty to making "severe" impact to Martin's head.
He said he had intended to "block" Martin so teammate Gary Ablett could win possession and at no stage had he intended to injure the Lions' ruckman, who suffered concussion from the hit.
"I reckon I probably could have picked up the ball, but it was because 'Gaz' and Stef were about to contest the ball that I decided to bump," May told the Tribunal.
"I just decided that they're running with the ball and if I could take Martin out and block him 'Gaz' would have a free run at the ball.
After being knocked out by Steven May, Stefan Martin has passed his first concussion test and is now considered a good chance to play the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
"I saw him this morning, he's in good spirits," Lions defender Tom Cutler said of his teammate.
"His health is number one and football after that. We think he'll be OK."
Steven May formally apologises to Stefan Martin for the brutal head-high bump that left the Brisbane Lions ruckman unconscious.
"I'm very remorseful that in the heat of the game I overstepped the mark, I am disappointed in my actions and for that I apologise to Stefan," May said in a statement.
"Fortunately after the game last night I had the chance to speak with Stefan and apologised to him directly. And again this morning, I made contact with Stefan to check up on him and we have since exchanged messages."
Gold Coast enforcer Steven May says the precedent for aggression has been set after Brisbane Lion Mitch Robinson escaped sanction from the Match Review Panel.
Robinson was reported for his hit on Geelong captain Joel Selwood on Sunday but did not face charges after the MRP deemed there was "insufficient force".
May was suspended for two matches after last year's first QClash against the Lions for a high bump on Tom Rockliff, and says the Robinson verdict has set the bar for 2016.
"I saw it. I was hoping he would have got rubbed out for our sake," May said.
"I read the report and it said insufficient force, so that's the way they're going to adjudicate it. I hope it's consistent [for] the whole year.
"I've been reported in the past, but I've had to learn to control my aggression and I hope I stay out of the umpire's book, that's for sure."
Tom lynch has won the Gold Coast best and fairest award, winning a tight count at Southport's Sharks Event Centre on Friday night.
Lynch (131 votes) used a stirring second half of the season to edge out second-year defender Kade Kolodjashnij (129).
Reliable full-back Steven May (102) was third despite missing three matches after being suspended for an early-season bump on Brisbane Lions captain Tom Rockliff.
"I think at the end of my career I can look book and be proud that I've won a club best and fairest," Lynch said.
"When I got drafted all I wanted to do was play one game. I'm quite proud I've managed to win a club best and fairest."
Steven May says his heated quarter-time exchange with Tom Lynch on Saturday was all about keeping every Gold Coast player accountable, no matter what their stature in the team.
May was quick to drag Lynch away from quarter-time melee against the Brisbane Lions, giving the fired-up forward a few choice words as they left the scuffle.
Lynch, a Suns leader who has occasionally filled in as skipper in Gary Ablett's absence, pushed May away as the pair continued the exchange.
"Before the game, 'Lynchy' brought us in and spoke about a few standards we wanted to maintain against the Lions," May said.
"I just noticed he was getting caught into it too much, so I just ran over to pull him out.
"He turned around and pushed me out of frustration.
"I was just keeping him accountable to what he spoke to us about before the game."
Steven May is involved in a heated quarter-time exchange with Tom Lynch in Gold Coast's QClash victory over the Brisbane Lions, but Suns coach Rodney Eade says he has no problem with it.
Emotions boiled over at quarter-time when Lynch was late to spoil a marking attempt from Lion Stefan Martin and the incident brought players in from everywhere to remonstrate.
May pushed Lynch as they left the field in the wake of the melee, and appeared to deliver some heated words.
"Steve's become a really good leader so he will challenge his teammates and he will demand more from his teammates, especially guys not doing the right things," Eade said.
"There might be certain stages when he'll do that, which we think is a good thing."
Steven May says he won't be changing his playing style after being suspended following his highly-publicised bump in round five that left Brisbane Lions skipper Tom Rockliff with concussion.
May admitted to still being confused by the ruling that put him on the sidelines, but said if the same circumstance presented themselves again, he wouldn't change his aggressive nature.
"The main thing out of the Tribunal was that I was unlucky, although unlucky doesn't come into the result," May said.
"I did make full contact with his (Rockliff's) body and clip him high, and as a player that's my responsibility and my duty of care, so you've got to cop the suspension.
"I'll definitely be mindful, but it's not going to change the way I play footy."
Steven May will serve a three-match suspension after the AFL tribunal rejected his argument he had no alternative to bumping Brisbane's Tom Rockliff.
The Lions' captain was knocked out by the bump in the jaw, as he and May chased the ball close to Brisbane's goal at the weekend.
The AFL's match review panel had offered May a two-match penalty if he accepted he had done the wrong thing, but he chose to go to the tribunal to defend himself.
Steven May has undergone minor knee surgery but is expected to be back in full training within a month.
"The specialist advised it was best for me to have a quick arthroscope, and after the surgery he was confident I'd be back on the track soon," May said.
"There was a chance the injury might have been worse, and that would have put me in doubt for the start of the season, so to be honest, it's a pretty good outcome."
Steven May signs a new three-year deal with the Suns that will keep him at the club until the end of 2017.
"I'm really excited in the direction the club is heading," May said.
"We are starting to play consistent football. We know we still have plenty of improvement to offer and hopefully we'll be able to taste team success in the near future."
Steven May says he won't change his style after successfully challenging a rough conduct charge for a hit against Lion Dayne Zorko.
"I spoke to Bluey about that and he said he didn't want me to shy away from the way I've been playing," May said.
"I was within the rules and will continue to play like that. Obviously you've got to watch the head-high contact. It's a massive risk because these days you get a week straight away so I've got to play within the rules, but I don't want to shy away from the way I've been playing."
Campbell Brown has been suspended from Gold Coast until the completion of the investigation into how his teammate Steven May ended up with a broken jaw.
"As you would expect, their brief has been to gather all the relevant facts, ensuring that any ruling the club makes will be made with accurate and substantiated information," Gold Coast chairman John Witheriff said about the investigation.
"This is being done in a timely manner, but I must stress that the board is committed to a fair and appropriate outcome. The integrity of the investigation is my dominant concern."
Campbell Brown could be sent into early retirement after the 30-year-old allegedly left teammate Steven May with a suspected fractured jaw in an incident after the club's high altitude training camp in Arizona.
The Suns are reviewing the incident, which took place in Los Angeles at the completion of the club's 18-day high-altitude camp.
"The club is in the process of establishing exactly what happened and all other relevant facts, and is discussing the matter with the two players concerned who have since returned to the Gold Coast ahead of their teammates," the Suns said in a statement.
"The Gold Coast Suns are considering appropriate actions and will not make further comment at this stage in relation to the incident."
Richmond's desire to snare Greater Western Sydney midfielder Dom Tyson could be aided by Western Bulldogs in a trade involving the highly-rated youngster and a combination of picks from the two Victorian clubs.
GWS, however, are adamant they will not be easily convinced to allow Tyson to return home to Melbourne.
"It is absolutely not going to happen," Giants football chief Graeme Allan said.
Monday, 20 August 2012
Steven May excels as a forward with 22 disposals, 13 marks and 3 goals against Hawthorn after having played mostly as a defender.
"Maysy through a lack of fitness had struggled down back," Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said.
"This game he went forward, it was played in his terms and he took full toll, which is a credit to him."
Monday, 23 July 2012
Michael Voss may look at using Simon Black as a substitute to extend the career of his star midfielder.
"There's some merit in that but there's still some stigma attached to the sub, and putting a great player in a jacket doesn't look that great," Voss said.
"But if it means making the career of our players that little bit longer, and they can add something valuable, we'll look at all options."
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Steven May makes his AFL debut for Gold Coast at Docklands Stadium with 16 disposals (10 kicks and 6 handballs), 2 marks and a tackle in a 139-point loss to Essendon.