Melbourne defender May sent straight to AFL tribunal

The Advertiser

13 hours ago

Melbourne star Steven May faces a lengthy ban for a controversial collision that concussed Carlton's Francis Evans after being referred directly to the tribunal.
Despite Melbourne and Carlton's coaches defending May, the All Australian defender has been cited for rough conduct.
The AFL's match review officer Michael Christian graded May's contact as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
May and Evans clashed at speed while attacking a loose ball in the Blues' eight-point win at the MCG on Saturday night.
Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier than his opponent, getting his hands to the ball before May caught him high.
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 will miss round 20 regardless of the tribunal outcome after being concussed himself in a separate incident.
He sustained an accidental knee to the back of the head late in the match when Carlton ruck Tom De Koning flew to take a spectacular a mark.
Melbourne star Steven May faces a lengthy ban for a controversial collision that concussed Carlton's Francis Evans after being referred directly to the tribunal.
Despite Melbourne and Carlton's coaches defending May, the All Australian defender has been cited for rough conduct.
The AFL's match review officer Michael Christian graded May's contact as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
May and Evans clashed at speed while attacking a loose ball in the Blues' eight-point win at the MCG on Saturday night.
Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier than his opponent, getting his hands to the ball before May caught him high.
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 will miss round 20 regardless of the tribunal outcome after being concussed himself in a separate incident.
He sustained an accidental knee to the back of the head late in the match when Carlton ruck Tom De Koning flew to take a spectacular a mark.
Melbourne star Steven May faces a lengthy ban for a controversial collision that concussed Carlton's Francis Evans after being referred directly to the tribunal.
Despite Melbourne and Carlton's coaches defending May, the All Australian defender has been cited for rough conduct.
The AFL's match review officer Michael Christian graded May's contact as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
May and Evans clashed at speed while attacking a loose ball in the Blues' eight-point win at the MCG on Saturday night.
Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier than his opponent, getting his hands to the ball before May caught him high.
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 will miss round 20 regardless of the tribunal outcome after being concussed himself in a separate incident.
He sustained an accidental knee to the back of the head late in the match when Carlton ruck Tom De Koning flew to take a spectacular a mark.