Demons star to learn rough conduct fate in AFL appeal

Shayne Hope | July 28, 2025

Melbourne will reiterate their belief that Steven May had a legitimate play at the ball in his high-speed clash with Carlton’s Francis Evans when the star defender fronts the AFL Appeals Board.

The case, which Demons coach Simon Goodwin predicts will shape the way players approach contests in future, will be heard on Monday evening.

May was initially handed a three-match ban by the Tribunal for rough conduct over the collision that left Blues forward Evans with concussion, a broken nose and a missing tooth.

But the All Australian defender maintained the ball was always his focus.

“We think he had a play on the ball and it was a football incident,” Goodwin said after the Demons confirmed they would appeal the Tribunal’s decision.

“From my perspective, that’s ultimately the argument that we’ll go with.

“Clearly there’s some legal stuff that they’ll go through in terms of the case as part of the appeal.

“But you can see it’s divided a lot of the public and I think it’s one of those cases where everyone wants it to go through the appeals (process) and see what the outcome is going to be.”

Goodwin said May was “devastated and shattered” by the Tribunal’s decision.

“Right from the outset when he first came to the bench, he was a little bit confused and thought he’d done the right thing and gone at the footy,” Goodwin said.

“He was shattered, he was disappointed with the outcome and clearly frustrated.

“This is part of the process, go through the appeals, get the clarity required and we’ll all move forward post that.”

Goodwin predicted players would adapt with the more information they get from the AFL about how they are required to act in certain scenarios.

The 2021 premiership coach referenced the aerial contest between Fremantle captain Alex Pearce and Port Adelaide’s Darcy Byrne-Jones, which caused similar controversy to the May-Evans collision.

Pearce was handed a three-match ban before overturning it on appeal.

“This is part of the game,” Goodwin said.

“We’re learning more and more about the game and what’s required in the game, and what the players need to do in the game, especially around concussion.

“But if you look at the Alex Pearce case, these cases go all the way through to the appeals and you get more information.”

May is recovering from his own concussion, having missed Sunday’s horror fade-out against St Kilda after an accidental knee to the head from Carlton’s Tom De Koning.