AFL players will adapt to May's appeal verdict: Goodwin
May was handed a three-match ban by the AFL Tribunal on Wednesday night over the high-speed collision that left Carlton's Francis Evans with concussion, a broken nose and a missing tooth.
But the All Australian defender has maintained the ball was always his focus and will take his case to the league's Appeals Board next week.
Francis Evans has been subbed out of the game following this incident involving Steven May.#AFLBluesDees pic.twitter.com/TmTKlkXZwD
— AFL (@AFL) July 19, 2025
"We think he had a play on the ball and it was a football incident," Demons coach Goodwin said on Friday.
"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".
"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 said players will 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, ruled out of Sunday's clash with St Kilda after an accidental knee to the head from Carlton's Tom De Koning.
"He seems in good spirits and he's obviously stepping through his protocols in the right manner," Goodwin said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Rival NRL clubs on notice after Munster update as young gun's Storm future in doubt
Player agent Braith Anasta has moved to quell the links of his star five-eighth Cameron Munster leaving Melbourne having suggested he wants to remain in the city, which comes as a blow to young star Jonah Pezet. Speculation over Munster's future took a turn the last week when Jahrome Hughes re-signed with the Melbourne Storm to remain until the end of 2030. With Hughes' extension there were suggestions it was unlikely the Storm could hold onto all three of Munster, Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuzyen with the club's salary cap under a squeeze. To make matters more interesting, young halfback Pezet has been biding his time under the halves duo. Although Hughes' new deal meant Pezet could now negotiate with other clubs due to a clause in his contract. However, there were suggestions he could still bide his time if Munster was tempted to leave and join the Perth Bears on a lucrative contract. Coach Craig Bellamy was asked about Munster's future at Melbourne and said he would like his star playmaker to remain. While Munster has been continually linked as a marquee signing for the new club, entering the competition in 2027, his agent has moved to quell the hype. Speaking on NRL 360, Anasta said Munster isn't set to leave Melbourne before his deal ends and it's all just speculation at the moment. While Anasta didn't completely rule out the circumstances changing, he said Munster is keen to see out his deal until the end of the 2027 season and potentially stay for even longer. "It's probably right for me to clear a few things up and talk on behalf of the situation," Anasta said. "Cameron doesn't want to leave Melbourne and Melbourne don't want to let him go. At the moment, it's really just all speculation. "One thing is for sure, I'm not shopping him to Perth and I'm not allowed to shop him to Perth. It's a unique situation, because you've got a new franchise which doesn't come along too often and they could have possible interest in him. Then you've got the Melbourne Storm, who are trying to fit five or six superstars into their salary cap. "As it stands right now, it is just speculation and the scenario as it is, nothing is gonna change. He is gonna be at Melbourne for the next couple of years and that's it." This is a huge blow to the Bears who appear they will have to find another marquee signing to start their inaugural season. With Hughes and Munster appearing off the cards, the Bears will need to find another halves star to throw the money at for 2027 and beyond. Jonah Pezet in limbo at Melbourne Storm And Anasta's comments about his player also come as a blow to Pezet. Incredibly, Anasta is also Pezet's agent and is working out what is best for both his players in a tricky situation. The 22-year-old is expected to get more game time in the next few weeks with Hughes out injured with a shoulder dislocation. But many feel Pezet should be starting in the NRL. A loan deal has been tossed around as a potential game-changer for Pezet. This would be similar to what Harry Grant did when he was biding his time behind Cameron Smith. Although Pezet would need to know if Munster is planning on re-signing beyond his 2027 deal. RELATED: Stunning news about Latrell Mitchell as Bennett axing divides NRL hits Wests Tigers player with fine over 'offensive' gesture And the youngster broke his silence this week having claimed he is keen on playing more minutes in the NRL. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." When pushed on what a potential loan deal would be like, Pezet remained coy and said he would leave that up to his manager. "I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club ... they'll sort it all out," Pezet said. "With Hughesy going down there's an opportunity there, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes I'm ready for that wherever it might be. Obviously the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on."
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hawks coach confident injury-plagued star will be back
Sam Mitchell has pointed to Jesse Hogan as an example of what is still possible for injury-plagued Hawthorn star Will Day. Day has suffered more bone stress in his navicular, ending the midfielder's AFL season. With Josh Weddle already sidelined for the rest of 2025, Day's latest foot problem is a fresh blow for the Hawks as they battle to stay in the top eight. They face a massive test on Thursday night against Collingwood, who similarly need a win after dropping three of their last four games. While navicular injuries can be notoriously tough to heal and have ended AFL careers, Mitchell is upbeat about Day overcoming his foot problem. He noted Hogan has overcome navicular injuries to star at GWS. You'd never know he was gone. Will Day with a hanger! 😭#AFLHawksBlues — Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) July 24, 2025 "I'm 100 per cent confident that he'll be back and back consistently," Mitchell said of Day. "He's a pro and our medical team will work really hard ... Jesse Hogan's had some similar stuff in his career and he's obviously put together a pretty good few years." Mitchell added Day is coping well with this latest setback. He managed only six senior games this season. "He's not too bad, he'll be on the bench for us tomorrow night, so he's in a pretty good head space," Mitchell said. "His navicular site, where he had the surgery, looks pretty good. He has some bone stress in some other parts of his foot - it obviously changed the mechanics of his running. "It's an issue for us, trying to get him back out and ready for the season ... but he's not back to square one. "He's still a fair way through his process of getting back." While Hawthorn are coming off a loss to Adelaide, Mitchell said they are making progress as they try to match it with other top-eight heavyweights. "We want to put ourselves into a position where we play big games against big clubs and we play in a style that can compete and win those games," he said. "Now, can we compete in those games? Absolutely. Everyone watched our game against Adelaide last week and said that's two pretty good teams going at it. "You don't throw the baby out with the bath water and say we're not good enough. We need to refine a couple of things in our game and handle those moments. "You look at Collingwood's last month - it's pretty easy to say they've lost three out of four, but they've played pretty good footy. Both teams are in pretty good form without getting the points."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Geelong coach clips Collingwood rival as press conference act raises eyebrows
Chris Scott has questioned the actions of Collingwood counterpart Craig McRae after the Magpies coach went public about a recent meeting he had with Carlton star Jack Silvagni. The Silvagni name is synonymous is Carlton, with his father Stephen and grandfather Sergio both both greats of the AFL club, but Jack's time at the Blues could be coming to an end, with reports Collingwood have tabled him a four-year contract. McRae has made no secret of his interest in Silvagni after admitting that he'd already had a promising 'first date' with the Blues player. That caused Carlton coach Michael Voss to hit back at his Collingwood rival and criticise him for 'outing' their player as a target for the Magpies, before the player had a chance to speak about it first. 'Regardless of what Craig did, it's not something we would do. We will respect the privacy of the player,' Voss said. 'It's not for me to announce something like that on behalf of someone, because they're the ones that have to walk back into the locker room.' Speaking about the situation on Channel Seven's The Agenda Setters on Tuesday night, Geelong coach Scott said he agreed with Voss' stance on the Silvagni situation. The Cats mentor admitted it was naive to suggest clubs wouldn't expect some of their players to meet with rivals, but said it should be kept behind closed doors and not made public - like McRae did. "I don't think it (coaches meeting with contracted players) is something that clubs should be promoting necessarily."🗣️ Chris Scott after Craig McRae was asked about meeting with Jack Silvagni — 7AFL (@7AFL) August 5, 2025 "I think most people in the footy industry know that players, especially with free agency coming in, they really have an obligation to do their research," he said on Seven's The Agenda Setters. "It's not clubs chasing players... I don't think it's the clubs preying on these players." Scott said it was unrealistic to expect players to wait until October to speak to clubs about their future, giving them 'two weeks notice' when the trade window or free agency window was open. But in response to McRae's light-hearted remarks about his meeting with Silvagni, the Geelong coach insisted it was 'not something clubs should be promoting'. "There's a reality it's happening but to talk about it I think is something the media wants and the fans might like but... I think Vossy's point is really well made," he continued. "It's not up to the prospective club to out that player, knowing full well that player's got to walk back into the locker room and front his teammates and coach." RELATED: Luke Hodge makes huge claim about Max Gawn after coach sacking Abbey Holmes responds amid backlash over decision post-birth Eagles face decision as Victorian club 'not prepared' to pay Harley Reid Jack Silvagni reportedly edging closer to Carlton exit But Scott conceded that he'd be 'staggered if Carlton weren't aware that Silvagni was assessing his options'. Details emerged last month that Collingwood were exploring the potential signing of Silvagni, who is an unrestricted free agent if he doesn't re-sign with Carlton. The 27-year-old defender could be the perfect replacement for veteran premiership hero Jeremy Howe, with reports suggesting the Pies' four-year deal is similar to the mid-$600,000 per season offer on the table at Carlton. And AFL reporter Sam McLure told Nine's Footy Classified last month he'd be 'very surprised' if Silvagni was still at Carlton next year. 'The interesting thing here though, is that if he was to leave Carlton and play for Collingwood next year, it wouldn't be about the money," McLure said. "It paints a reasonably dark picture about, I guess, the frustrations in the playing group at Carlton right now."
