Melbourne Demons defender Steven May faces scrutiny for bump on Carlton Blues’ Francis Evans but finds support from Charlie Curnow

Danny Russell
Carlton’s last-goal hero Charlie Curnow believes opponent Steven May’s only split-second alternative was to lay a tackle instead of the nose-crunching bump that sidelined teammate Francis Evans with concussion on Saturday night.

Evans had his nose bloodied and lost a tooth as he and May collided front-on while attacking the ball from different directions in the third quarter of Carlton’s hard-fought eight-point victory at the MCG.

Commentators believe May’s intent was to win the football in an action that will test the AFL’s ongoing crackdown on the game’s concerning head knocks. The league’s match review officer will analyse the incident on Sunday and announce if there is to be any consequence for May that afternoon.

The Demon premiership defender had his hands by his side and didn’t leave the ground as he charged out from full-back, while the smaller Evans was chasing the loose ball deep into the Blues’ forward line.

As they met the ball, May’s right shoulder collected Evans across the face and sent him flying to the ground.

“It was pretty quick, I don’t really know,” Curnow said after the game. “I reckon in those situations it’s really hard because it’s split-second.

“So in the end, I don’t know, maybe we’re going down the path of ‘would have liked to see Maysie do a tackle there, so he can help Frankie play out the rest of the day’.

“But in saying that, it’s hard work out there, mate. Like, Maysie has got to change in an instant.”

When pressed whether May had a duty of care to stop and lay a tackle, Curnow said, “I don’t know, I didn’t really see it that way”.

“When I saw the review (on the big screen), I was obviously worried about Frankie and supporting him,” he said.

Experts on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show discussed the prospect of May copping a three-match ban from the MRO the morning after the game. Former Hawthorn and Geelong premiership player Isaac Smith said it was almost impossible to predict the outcome for May, and one factor that might count against him was the fact he didn’t stay low.

“I think you can see him getting no weeks and you can see him getting four weeks,” Smith said.

Speaking after the match, Blues coach Michael Voss said both May and Evans were making a play at the ball.

“Maybe one person was one step late, which obviously … then the incident happens,” he said.

“(I’ll) let the tribunal (MRO) take care of it, really. I mean, it’s up to them to be able to adjudicate what they think is fair.”

May later suffered a concussion when he was kneed in the head by Tom De Koning during a last-quarter marking contest and will miss next Sunday’s match against St Kilda.

Voss said Evans was “banged up on the nose” but “actually pretty good” after the game.

“He’s disappointed because he was playing a fantastic game of footy. He was doing an unbelievable role for us, and we obviously lost a pretty important player,” Voss said.

Curnow back on track after 35-day drought

Danny Russell
After four long rounds without a goal, star Blues forward Charlie Curnow had a night to remember in his side’s win over the Demons, including kicking the sealer in the tight victory.

Curnow opened the scoring in the first 36 seconds of the game, receiving a handball from Ollie Hollands that allowed him to break a 35-day goal drought.

His third major of the night was even more memorable. With two minutes on the clock, and the Blues leading by two points, Curnow took a free kick from the 50m line on a 45-degree angle and nailed the set-shot.

“I’m sure it’s been really frustrating for the fact that he hasn’t been able to hit the scoreboard, as you’d like, but he’s kept turning up,” coach Michael Voss said after the game.

“So for Charlie to get the rewards and to be able to finish the way he did … he looked like he wanted to take that moment, which was pleasing to see, and, obviously, he was able to close out the game for us.”

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Curnow was keen to play down his own achievements after the match, highlighting that his younger teammates Flynn Young and Matt Carroll had kicked their first goals for the club.

He also praised energetic forward Ashton Moir who booted a career-high four majors against the Demons.

“He’s terrible at ping pong, table tennis, I smoked him all week, same as Will White, but he’s an energetic guy,” Curnow said.

“You know how he plays? That’s what he’s like off the field – bouncy, energetic, always trying to make other people laugh and have a good time.

“Anyone with that sort of athleticism and who can find the goals I feel is going to be really good for the football club.”

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