AFL news: Steven May takes shot at Collingwood at Melbourne best and fairest event

Melbourne premiership player Steven May claims his side was better than Collingwood and they squandered the opportunity to add another flag to their tally.

MELBOURNE - June 12: AFL. Steven May of the Demons clears by hand in front of Mason Cox of the Magpies during the round 13 AFL match between Melbourne and Collingwood at the MCG on June 12, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Michael Klein.

Melbourne premiership player Steven May has detailed his anguish at a second straight sets finals exit, declaring the Demons should have “smoked” Collingwood and won the premiership.

The Demons lost to Collingwood by 11 points in the qualifying final as they kicked 7.11 to the Pies’ 9.6 then again squandered chances against Carlton in the semi-final defeat despite May’s brilliant performance.

In a video of his speech on Bluey Truscott Medal night (see the video above) on Friday, May made clear the Demons had wasted another chance despite a wide-open premiership window.

It came in a week where the Demons pondered trading star midfielder Clayton Oliver given his off-field issues, another reminder Melbourne has not grasped its chance to capitalise on its extraordinarily talented list.

Steven May claimed the Demons should have ‘smoked’ Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

Interviewed on stage in a discussion only posted on social media on Sunday night, May made clear he believed the Demons were capable of more than they had achieved in September this year.

“I’ve had a few fans come up to me and (comment that) I really appreciate and respect how much you hate losing, which is awesome. And I do,” May said.

“I don’t want to talk about them constantly. But we lose to Collingwood, and they go on to win the flag, and it f***ing hurts. Because we’re a better team than them. We should have smoked them.

“And to sit there on Grand Final day and watch them hoist the cup, and get the medals. I am sitting there going gee our team’s so much better than these guys. We should’ve been out there, but we weren’t.

“We’ve got an unbelievable list, an unbelievable coaching group, and the hunger has never been hungrier. I’m blessed to be a part of this team and looking forward to next year.”

The Demons will trade star ruckman Brodie Grundy to Sydney for a later pick and have lost 2021 premiership player James Jordon to the Swans.

Coach Simon Goodwin challenged to the Demons to respond to their setback in his best-and-fairest speech, with May’s eventful weekend continuing on Saturday night when he was hospitalised after an allergic reaction to food.

Originally published as AFL news: Steven May takes shot at Collingwood at Melbourne best and fairest event