Melbourne Demons star Steven May has announced his retirement from professional footy.
The 34-year-old premiership winner announced the news on Instagram on Sunday, adding that he wanted to give new coach Steven King and his team-mates ‘clean air’ and ‘no distractions’ on the eve of the 2026 AFL season.
It comes as May and Richmond star Dion Prestia are facing charges relating to an alleged brawl in Sorrento on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula back in 2024.
More recently, the AFL had launched an investigation into why police had turned up at May’s house after a complaint was made on January 29.
It is understood that the key defender has been absent from the footy club over the past month. The Demons are yet to comment on his retirement announcement but his announcement came ahead of Monday’s deadline on late list admissions.
On Sunday, he took to Instagram to write: ‘It’s with a heavy heart that I’ve decided to step away and retire from the AFL.
AFL star Steven May (pictured) has announced his retirement from professional footy
May, who won a premiership with the Demons in 2021, has been absent from training over the past few months
‘It’s an incredibly tough decision to make on the eve of the season but I know it’s the right one for myself, my family and the team.
‘As a kid from Darwin, all I ever wanted was to play one game of AFL. To have lived that dream and had the career I’ve had is something I’ll be forever grateful for.
‘Thank you to the Gold Coast Suns for initially giving me that opportunity. Starting in the inaugural season sure was an experience I’ll never forget and happy to have played a tiny role in the club’s inception.
‘Thank you to the Melbourne Football Club for seeing something in me and pursuing me. It was a hard decision to leave my club but a decision that paid dividends and I’ll forever be a premiership player for such a historic club. It truly was a privilege to have been part of this club and this group of boys. The lifelong relationships and memories will stay with me forever.
‘Right now the club, Kingy and the boys deserve some clean air and no distractions moving forward, and I wish the lads nothing but success ahead. Very exciting times for our fans. Forever grateful. Mayzy #1.’
Born in Darwin, May began playing footy with the Southern Districts Football Club, competing in the Northern Territory Football League. He would go on to represent Northern Territory at the 2010 AFL Under 18 Championships before being snapped up by the newly formed Gold Coast Suns as a priority zone selection from the Northern Territory.
The two-time All-Australian would go on to make his debut for the Suns in 2011. He’d play 123 matches for the Suns before being traded to Melbourne in 2018.
May proved pivotal in helping the Demons break their 57-year wait for a premiership, playing through the 2021 Grand Final with a serious hamstring injury.
May began his professional career playing with the Gold Coast Suns back in 2011
His contract was due to expire at the end of the 2026 season. Reports claimed that Melbourne had told May he was able to seek a trade away from the club, but clubs around the league opted to stay clear of signing the Melbourne defender.
The Australian adds that the Demons will have to pay the remainder of his $700,000 salary.
May could continue to play lower league footy in the future, if desired.
May, who will now end his career on 251 AFL appearances, was due to face court on February 20, charged with summons on affray following the alleged brawl in Sorrento.
The hearing was ‘administratively adjourned without appearances’. Both May and Prestia have vehemently denied the charges, stating that they were not ‘physically present or physically involved’ during the alleged incident. The pair have asked for the charges to be withdrawn.
‘Steven has advised the club that he was not involved in the alleged incident and will strongly defend the charge in court,’ the Demons said in October.
His team-mates, however, were still hopeful that May would continue to play through to the end of 2026, despite his absence at the start of the year.
Dees skipper Max Gawn says he has reached out to his team-mate to ensure that he was doing OK.
May, who will now end his career on 251 AFL appearances, was due to face court on February 20, charged with summons on affray following an alleged brawl in Sorrento
The pair had a much-publicised on-field spat during Melbourne’s one-point defeat by Collingwood in June of last year.
Gawn said last month: ‘He’s on personal leave. That’s really as much as I can give you.
‘I’ve reached out to him. We’re in dialogue.
‘I don’t reach out about anything I shouldn’t, and don’t want to go into his face. I just make sure that he’s healthy and well and he’s away from the club at the moment.’
