AFL 2023: Steven May re-signs with Dees for two seasons
A vital cog of the Demon’s 2021 flag-winning side has recommitted with the club until the end of the 2025 season. See all the details here.
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Melbourne has received a timely pre-season boost with premiership defender Steven May signing a two-year extension that will take him through until the end of the 2025 season.
May agreed to the extended deal on Friday afternoon following ongoing discussions with the Demons.
The 31-year-old defender has won All-Australian selection in the past two seasons and remains one of the most important Demons’ players in the chase for their next premiership.
He was a key member of the club’s drought-breaking 2021 premiership success and he produced another strong season last year, despite being on the end of a club-imposed one-game suspension for an altercation with teammate Jake Melksham at a Prahran restaurant.
“We are extremely happy that we have been able to extend Steven’s contract for a further two years,” Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb said.
“Steven is an incredible asset for us. He has become a key pillar of our team structure and, with his high-level footy IQ, is continuing to push his own boundaries while helping develop those around him.
“We look forward to what Steven can bring to the team over these next three seasons.”
Melbourne has done a superb job of locking away most of its elite talent on long-term deals, with May’s commitment yet another box ticked.
The Demons will be working overtime on trying to secure livewire forward Kysaiah Pickett, as heavy interest comes from the two South Australian clubs.
May is due to play his 200th AFL game early in the 2023 season as the Demons look to overcome a frustrating end to 2022, with a straight-sets exit to Sydney and Brisbane.
OFF TO THE RACES? SHOCK BASE CONSIDERED FOR DEES HQ
Jay Clark
Melbourne has expressed interest in building its new training base at Caulfield Racecourse as part of its long-held plan to bring the club under one roof.
News Corp can reveal the Demons have held talks about shifting their headquarters — including a training oval and gym facilities — to the racecourse as part of plans to redevelop the site.
But the move remains a longshot as it would require significant state government funding to create a community and elite sporting hub tipped to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Discussions have centred on training ovals being constructed in the middle of the racecourse and linked by an underground tunnel to buildings outside the track.
The site would be an ideal solution for the Demons as Caulfield Racecourse is only 12km and roughly a 20-minute drive from the MCG.
Importantly there is a significant amount of public land available to develop in conjunction with the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust in the heart of the eastern suburbs.
But the Demons also remain engaged in talks with the AFL and the Melbourne Olympic Parks Trust about redeveloping the area adjoining AAMI Park.
Car Parks E and F could be used to build a multi-story complex which would give the Demons more room for their own facilities which they currently share with Melbourne Storm and Melbourne Victory.
The Demons have labelled their training facilities the worst in the AFL amid a string of setbacks surrounding plans to build a new inner-city home.
It has been a frustration for the club which is currently split between the MCG (administration), AAMI Park (football department), Gosch’s Paddock and Casey Fields.
The training base headache will be one of the top items on the agenda at the club’s annual general meeting on Monday, February 20 when president Kate Roffey and chief executive Gary Pert update members.
The club has spent money recently upgrading its facilities at Casey Fields and AAMI Park and increasing the size of Gosch’s Paddock to AFL standard.
However, the travel to Casey Fields is not ideal as the 50km journey from the city can take more than one hour for players and staff to drive.
Five years ago former president Glen Bartlett, who is locked in a legal battle with the club over his departure, said a new training base was “our No. 1 off-field priority”.
But the Demons, who broke a 57-year premiership drought to win the 2021 flag, have had little joy finding a suitable location or the government funds to set up a new base.
“We’ve got strong backing from the Vic Government, AFL, our CEO (Gary Pert) and CFO (David Chippindall) are working very hard in this space with many stakeholders,” Bartlett said in 2018.
“We can’t run a running commentary, it’s not in our interests to do so, but trust me, there’s movement at the station.
“We’re making good progress and the sooner we can get on with it the better.”
The Demons proposed to build a new headquarters in Yarra Park close to Jolimont Station, but angry East Melbourne residents did not support the parklands proposal.
A site next to Richmond station was also considered as part of an initial 2023 deadline.
The club will have more talks later this month about the racecourse and Olympic Park sites.
Hawthorn will move to Dingley in 2023-24, while Carlton has undergone a major revamp of its facilities at Ikon Park, giving the Blues one of the best headquarters in the AFL.
Revealed: Was Noble ever suited to be North coach?
– Rebecca Williams
Former North Melbourne coach David Noble has opened up on his “energising” switch from football into motorsport after the “very taxing” end to his coaching tenure at the Kangaroos.
Two months into his new role as the chief executive officer of Supercars team Dick Johnson Racing, Noble said he was relishing his new challenge as he conceded his skill set was better suited to sports administration than coaching.
Describing himself as a lifelong motorsport fan, Noble was appointed CEO of the top Ford V8 squad late last year, taking over the role from co-owner Ryan Story, who is stepping back from day-to-day operations.
Noble was a long-time football administrator at the Adelaide Crows and the Brisbane Lions before he took on the senior coaching role at the Kangaroos where he spent less than two seasons in charge in 2021 and 2022.
His short tenure at Arden St ended in July last year after just 38 games in charge.
Before his appointment at DJR, Noble was also part of the working committee charged with conducting the St Kilda football department review.
While he did hold discussions with AFL chief Gillon McLachlan and Andrew Dillon about the general manager of football role at league headquarters, Noble said he had been excited to pursue a new “direction” in his career.
“I have been a motorsport fan all my life,” Noble said.
“I was really open to sitting back and seeing what unfolded. I had a really terrific stint and owe footy a lot, it provided me and my family across the board.
“But I was very open minded to assess where my next direction was and an opportunity presented in another sport, which I felt really fitted the direction that I wanted to go – back into that senior executive role.
“I had one chat with Andrew Dillon and Gil in regards to the (AFL) GM role but I was already a fair way down the path with speaking to (DJR co-owners) Ryan and Brett (Ralph) by that time.
“I have been extremely energised and happy and grateful to be given an opportunity at such an iconic brand.
“It has been really stimulating. It’s obviously a new sport, so it’s a new challenge.”
After his departure from football, Noble has jumped straight into the coalface at DJR just as the Supercars series launches into its new Gen3 era as teams race the clock to get cars ready for the start of the season in Newcastle.
Despite the detour from the coaches box to the pit lane garage, Noble felt there were plenty of similarities which had made his transition easier.
But he admitted he was better suited to a role as a sports administrator.
“I do, there is no doubt. It was a great opportunity (to coach in the AFL) and I will be grateful to North for giving me that opportunity,” Noble said.
“But I guess eight of my last 10 years was in that admin (area) from Adelaide to Brissy with a bit of study in between, so that is the direction where I think could help an organisation on a broader scale.
“So, it was nice to be able to move back into that stream of probably where I was heading to a couple of years ago.
“As it has turned out, there are many similarities with structure, departments and how things unfold in respect to a motorsport team and in regards to an AFL structure.”
Reflecting on the end of his coaching stint, Noble acknowledged it had not been a “pleasant” finish in football but he was now fully invested in a second life “passion”.
“It wasn’t pleasant, it’s not an enjoyable period to go through,” Noble said.
“It’s very taxing, but you take on those roles with an understanding that it unfortunately can get to that point.
“But I am now going to give this (DJR job) a good shake for a while.
“I think to be able to work in two passions in your life is really unusual. I have been able to spend a long period of time in one.
“Those that know me [know] I’ve got a couple of cars myself and I have a long interest and love of motorsport so to be able to work in a second one, I can see myself giving this a crack for a long while.”
Noble was also looking forward to now being able to watch his son, Magpie John, play without the concern of being on an opposition team.
“It’s funny I was saying to someone, ‘I will be able to get along to a game and watch as a dad without worrying what are they doing – is this the strategy I am looking at? Is it stoppages? What are they doing as a forward line?’,” Noble said.
“That will be nice to just go and be a parent, so I am looking forward to that.”
Noble wished his successor, Alastair Clarkson, success in his new role at North Melbourne.
“He is an experienced campaigner, I wish them all the best,” Noble said.
“They were able to make steps forward and knowing some of those guys and the work they would be prepared to do, I’m sure they will make some steps forward.
“I wish them all the best for the coming season and beyond.”
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Originally published as AFL 2023: Steven May re-signs with Dees for two seasons
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