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 the club 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 had 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.
‘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.’
More to follow…
