Melbourne has confirmed it will appeal defender Steven May’s three-match suspension for a collision that concussed Carlton’s Francis Evans and left him with a broken nose and chipped tooth. The AFL tribunal found May guilty of rough conduct on Wednesday night, but the club believes his actions were reasonable.
Melbourne’s general manager of football, Alan Richardson, said the club felt May’s sole intention was to win the ball and that he provided a contest in a reasonable way. “After reviewing the outcome and seeking further expert legal advice this morning, we have decided to appeal the tribunal’s decision,” Richardson said in a statement.
A biomechanics expert calculated that May had only 0.56 seconds from the ball’s final bounce until the collision, and would have needed at least 0.2 to 0.25 seconds to react. However, AFL Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson said May had sufficient time to adjust his body or path to minimise impact, noting he made no attempt to change course. May argued he was shocked when Evans beat him to the ball.
In a separate case, Sydney defender Riak Andrew received a five-match suspension for using a homophobic slur during a VFL match. The AFL integrity unit found him remorseful and apologetic after he made full admissions. Andrew’s ban follows Steven May’s contentious suspension, which will see him miss matches against St Kilda, West Coast, and the Western Bulldogs.
