The partner of AFL star Steven May is accusing his former team of leaking false claims about her to other players’ wives and girlfriends in a lawsuit, it has been revealed.
Sachi Dade has alleged she suffered emotional distress, public harm and humiliation due to the fake information the Melbourne Demons allegedly divulged during a meeting with stars’ partners on February 5 this year.
Dade has filed a lawsuit against the Demons, coach Steven King and Melbourne’s general manager of football performance, Alan Richardson.
According to documents filed with the Federal Court, she alleges they invaded her privacy in the wake of a police welfare check in January at the home she shares with May, who announced his retirement from the AFL on March 1.
Dade claims the club caused her ’emotional distress, embarrassment, psychiatric harm and anguish’, the documents state.
She also accuses the club of leaving her open to ‘rumours, personal ridicule and humiliation by members of the public’, according to the documents, which also state that Dade reported the team to the AFL and the league’s integrity unit, but her issues were not resolved.
Sachi Dade is pictured with her partner, former Melbourne Demons star Steven May. She has launched a lawsuit against the club for alleged breaches of privacy
Dade claims the Demons leaked false claims about her to players’ wives and girlfriends in a meeting held on February 5 this year
Dade, who works as a nurse, has also accused a Melbourne board member of contacting May’s legal representatives in order to ‘apply pressure’ on her.
The documents reveal that Dade alleges the club committed three privacy breaches.
The first is a statement the Demons released on February 4, which stated that police attended the home she shares with May the previous week.
No arrests or charges were laid during the police visit to the home.
Secondly, she claims the Demons gave sensitive information about her and May to the AFL.
Lastly, she alleges that club officials shared confidential information about her and May during the meeting on February 5, which also involved the partners of 15 Demons players and was held to talk to stars’ families about the circumstances of May’s exit from the club.
Dade claims the team never contacted her to ‘ask for her comments or input on those matters’, according to the documents.
‘Representatives of the MFC [Melbourne Football Club] acknowledged that the information being shared was private and sensitive, and asked attendees not to further divulge the information,’ the documents state.
According to court documents, Dade claims the club caused her ’emotional distress, embarrassment, psychiatric harm and anguish’
May (left) is pictured after winning the 2021 grand final with the Dees. The meeting at the centre of the allegations was held after a police welfare check at the home he shares with Dade
‘Representatives of the MFC acknowledged that they were not aware of all of the facts surrounding the incidents being discussed.
‘It was unclear why the private and sensitive information was being shared with the attendees by representatives of the MFC.’
Dade is seeking an apology and damages, and the matter is due to return to court on September 11.
Melbourne issued a statement shortly after the February 5 meeting, which was held over Microsoft Teams.
‘The meeting sought to provide reassurance of the club’s commitment to supporting the families as well as the playing group,’ the statement read.
‘Whilst it was not our intent, we acknowledge the meeting has caused distress and for that the club is sorry.’
May and Dade celebrated the birth of their first child, daughter Millie, in September 2024.
The 34-year-old joined the Demons from the Gold Coast Suns ahead of the 2019 season and quickly established himself as one of the biggest stars on the team.
May racked up 128 matches for the club, including the 2021 grand final victory over the Western Bulldogs.
