Violence charges against AFL premiership players Dion Prestia and Steven May have been dropped by prosecutors, who will now pay the pair's legal costs.
Richmond midfielder Prestia, 33, and former Melbourne Demons defender May, 34, were charged last year following an alleged brawl in Sorrento, on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, in December 2024.
Police alleged the pair were involved in a streetside fight between 'two competing groups' in the early hours of December 27 that led to two men being taken to hospital. Prestia was charged with recklessly causing serious injury, intentionally causing injury and affray, while May was charged with affray. Both men vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged incident.
The high-profile pair appeared in the Frankston Magistrates Court on Friday morning as prosecutor Alex Turner announced police would withdraw all the charges. Both footy identities, who appeared via video link, replied: 'Thank you', when told the charges had been thrown out.
Defence lawyer Tony Hargreaves, who represented both men, then applied for their legal costs to be paid by police. Turner did not deny the request, with costs granted for both footy stars. The exact costs will be determined at a later date.
Prestia is a three-time premiership player with Richmond who started his AFL career at the Gold Coast Suns in 2011. May also began his senior career with the Suns in 2011 before joining the Melbourne Demons in 2019. Two years later, he won a flag under coach Simon Goodwin. May retired from footy in March this year, stating it was an 'incredibly tough decision.'
