AFL tribunal goes into ‘ghost' mode as Steven May learns fate

Perth Now

23-07-2025

The AFL tribunal has taken an eternity to make decision on Melbourne star Steven May, who was cited for a controversial collision that concussed Carlton's Francis Evans on Saturday night.
May faced the tribunal via a video hook-up on Wednesday night, with the tribunal eventually deciding — after deliberating for more than hour — the All-Australian defender was banned for three games.
May was cited for rough conduct in an incident that divided the AFL world.
It was reported that insiders at the AFL believed the case to be the most challenging they had seen in years.
Experts were also divided, with some believing that May had to make a contest of the situation, while others have suggested he needed to slow down or deviate when he realised he was on a collision course with Evans.
Star Channel 7 commentators Daisy Thomas and Kane Cornes both believe May had little choice but to contest the ball and make contact. Steven May collects Francis Evans with a high shot. Credit: Fox Footy Evans was a bloodied mess after the collision. Credit: Getty Images
Thomas said ahead of the tribunal: 'My mind would be blown if he does not get off. This is a footballing act to its core.'
But North Melbourne great David King said May needed to be punished because Evans was hit 'with the absolute point of the shoulder' and May hit him 'flush'
The AFL's match review officer Michael Christian graded May's contact as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
But May told the tribunal on Wednesday that he could not believe he didn't take possession of the ball.
'I thought I did everything right, so I'm just a bit shocked,' he said.
May and Evans clashed at speed, but Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier than his opponent, getting his hands to the ball before May caught him high.
Melbourne lawyer Adrian Anderson said there were nine reasons why the incident wasn't rough conduct, which included both players were travelling at pace, May was 'contesting the ball', the ball's bounce was 'unexpected', May didn't move off line, he didn't jump off ground, and May was significantly taller than Evans.
Before the final decision was handed down, the tribunal deliberated for over an hour leading one tribunal reporter to wonder if the panel had gone into ghost mode.
'Has the Tribunal f***n ghosted me?' Fox Footy reporter David Zita wondered on social media, while a fan said: 'Ghosted all of us ...'
Zita continued as he waited for the verdict: 'I'm sorry, but what the actual f***.'
Eventually, the tribunal panel released its findings, deciding May was banned for three games.
After the incident, Blues coach Michael Voss believed May's act was fair.
'Both players were in line with the ball and seemed to be attacking it,' he said post-match.
'Both sort of making a play at the ball, maybe one person was one step late, and obviously then the incident happens.
'But for Frankie (Evans) to be able to hold his line with a pretty strong man coming the other way was a pretty important moment in the game.'
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said May's intent was 'clearly' to win the ball.
'If you just look at his pure intent, it was purely for the ball and it was unfortunate,' he said.
Goodwin said the AFL was doing an 'unbelievable' job in trying to eradicate concussion from the game.
'It's important that we limit it as much as we can but there will be football incidents where someone is concussed,' he said.
May was concussed himself in a separate incident and was already ruled out of the Round 20 game.