Former AFL star Steven May’s partner has secured a payout and public apology from the Melbourne Demons after launching a lawsuit accusing the club of leaking false claims about her.
Sachi Dade took legal action against Melbourne, senior coach Steven King and football boss Alan Richardson after alleging the club invaded her privacy during a Microsoft Teams meeting with players’ partners in February, which came after police held a welfare check at her home.
On Monday night, Melbourne confirmed the dispute had been resolved, with the club acknowledging its leadership team had acted inappropriately by revealing personal information about Dade.
The settlement brings to an end a case that had been due to return to court in September.
In a statement released by the club, Melbourne admitted mistakes had been made.
‘In February 2026, the Melbourne Football Club leadership team divulged personal and sensitive information about Ms Dade,’ the statement said.
Sachi Dade (pictured with partner Steven May and their daughter Millie) secured a financial settlement and public apology after suing Melbourne over alleged privacy breaches and false claims leaks
Melbourne admitted sharing Dade’s personal information was inappropriate and apologised for the hurt, distress and impact on her family
‘We acknowledge that this was inappropriate and constituted a serious invasion of her privacy.
‘Ms Dade raised concerns about the conduct of MFC and its leadership team and advocated for change and for training.
‘Our senior leaders, including the Board, the incoming CEO and our leaders in the football department, are committed to taking all steps necessary to ensure this does not happen again.
‘We sincerely apologise to Ms Dade and her family for the hurt, distress and impact our actions have caused.’
The apology was signed by incoming chief executive Dan Taylor on behalf of the Melbourne Football Club.
Dade’s lawsuit alleged the club disclosed private information during a February 5 meeting involving the partners of 15 Melbourne players, held one week after Victoria Police conducted a welfare check at the home she shared with May.
No arrests were made, no charges were laid and the matter was resolved following the police attendance.
Court documents alleged the club’s actions caused Dade emotional distress, embarrassment, psychiatric harm and public humiliation.
The lawsuit centred on a Microsoft Teams meeting where Melbourne officials discussed sensitive information with players’ partners in February (Dade and May are pictured at the Brownlow Medal ceremony)
The legal dispute ended before a scheduled September court hearing after Melbourne reached a financial settlement with Dade this week
She also claimed Melbourne shared false information about her with players’ partners and failed to seek her version of events before discussing the matter.
According to the court filings, Dade alleged the club committed three separate privacy breaches by publicly referring to the police welfare check, providing sensitive information to the AFL, and discussing confidential matters during the Teams meeting.
She also alleged a Melbourne board member contacted May’s legal representatives in an attempt to pressure her.
The documents further claimed Melbourne representatives acknowledged the information being discussed was private and sensitive, asked attendees not to repeat it and admitted they were not aware of all the facts surrounding the incidents.
The apology follows earlier criticism from within the club over the handling of the meeting.
Demons president Steve Smith previously described holding the session as a mistake, while King also conceded the club got the situation wrong.
‘We had good intent, but if we had our time again, I think we would acknowledge that was a mistake and we probably shouldn’t have done that,’ King said on Seven’s The Agenda Setters.
Asked whether he planned to contact Dade personally after the settlement, King replied: ‘I’ll wait and see what the club want us to do from that point of view, but it’s been settled now so we’ll just move forward.’
May, who helped Melbourne end its 57-year premiership drought in 2021, retired before the start of the 2026 season after reaching a financial settlement with the Demons despite having a year remaining on his contract.
