In a significant ruling for the Melbourne Demons, defender Steven May will miss the next two matches after the appeals board rejected the club’s attempt to overturn his suspension. May received a three-match ban for rough conduct following a high-speed collision during the Demons’ match against Carlton on July 19, 2023, which resulted in serious injuries for Blues forward Francis Evans.
During the incident, Evans suffered a concussion, a broken nose, and lost a tooth. May has consistently stated that his focus was on the ball throughout the play. He was absent from the Demons’ recent match against St Kilda due to his own concussion, and now will be sidelined for upcoming games against West Coast and the Western Bulldogs.
Details of the Appeal Hearing
The Demons’ appeal was based on the assertion that the tribunal had committed a legal error and that no reasonable body could have reached the same conclusion. The club’s legal representative, Jack Rush, argued that the tribunal had imposed an unrealistic standard on players regarding their ability to anticipate the ball’s bounce. He pointed out that after a handball went over Evans’ head, the ball bounced four times, with the first three bounces going away from him before the fourth bounce brought the ball into his hands, coinciding with May’s approach.
The tribunal had noted that Evans made an effort to avoid contact, but the Demons contended that May’s attempt to slow down by extending his left leg was overlooked, which they described as “the height of procedural unfairness.” Despite these arguments, AFL representative Nick Pane maintained that the tribunal’s decision was reasonable. After a deliberation lasting 14 minutes, the appeals board, chaired by Will Houghton, concluded that May had a fair opportunity to present his case and that there were no procedural issues with the original ruling.
Following the ruling, Houghton confirmed that the board found no lack of procedural fairness, stating, “May understood the case being put against him and had every opportunity to defend himself.” This decision solidifies May’s suspension and raises questions about the future of player conduct in similar situations.
Coaching Perspectives and Other Incidents
Simon Goodwin, coach of the Demons, expressed that May was “devastated and shattered” by the tribunal’s decision, believing he acted correctly when attempting to win the ball. Goodwin suggested that this case could influence how players approach contest situations in the future, as they will likely adapt based on new information from the AFL regarding required conduct.
In a separate incident, Brody Mihocek of Collingwood has escaped suspension after pushing Nick Vlastuin of Richmond into two other players during a recent match. This incident, deemed low impact and careless conduct, will result in Mihocek receiving a $1,500 fine for rough conduct instead of facing suspension.
As the season progresses, the impact of these rulings on player safety and conduct continues to be a topic of significant discussion among fans and analysts alike.
