Melbourne defender Steven May admits he felt pressure to perform after ‘letting everyone down’ in his first year as a Demon
Steven May is the first to admit his first season at Melbourne was a let-down, with questions about his fitness, injuries and just eight games. The Demons defender reveals how tough it was and how he’s turned it around.
Melbourne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Melbourne. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Steven May knew there was nowhere to hide.
After learning the “hard way” in his first year at the Demons, the former Gold Coast Suns captain admits he felt the pressure to deliver heading into his second year at Melbourne.
May is all too aware his debut season in the red and blue was a let-down.
Off the back of a high-profile trade from the Suns, there were groin and hamstring injuries, heavy scrutiny of his fitness and he managed just the eight senior games.
“I felt horrible last year, I felt like I let everyone down and most of all I let myself down,” May said from the Demons’ Sunshine Coast base this week.
“I definitely learnt the hard way coming down to Melbourne. I got injured in the first game for the club and copped it about my fitness and how I turned up to pre-season.
“I worked super hard to get back and I was as fit as I could be then I’d tear a hammy and it just looped back to my fitness again from the start of the year.
“I just couldn’t escape that stigma, even though I was doing everything I could to get my body in the shape it needed to be in.
“I did have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, everyone was saying I’d had a bad year … the club had put faith to get me down here and for me not to play – I only played eight games – it was certainly a let-down.
“I just wanted to give myself the best opportunity to deliver.”
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Watch every match of every round Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
May knew what he had to do.
The key defender arrived back at the club for the start of the pre-season “about 4kg lighter” in preparation for a summer of redemption.
“I knew if I could put my head down and do the work, turn up to pre-season in good nick … I could play (good) footy, it was just about getting out onto the park,” May said.
“All the little hiccups and injuries, they don’t let you get a clean run at it. Whereas this year I’ve been able to have a full pre-season.
“Then during the COVID break I was able to do a lot of running and a lot of football stuff … I felt comfortable in my body coming back.
“Once we were able to go into games, I never had to go into games worrying about my hammies or my groins, it just felt like a kid again where all you thought about was playing footy, which was nice.”
That’s translating into performance.
The 28-year-old is now starting to deliver a return on the Demons’ big defensive investment after they off-loaded pick 6 for May and Kade Kolodjashnij in the 2018 trade period.
In a season that has faced curve balls at every turn, May has played every game for the Demons so far and was among the best in last week’s win over Hawthorn with 19 disposals and five marks.
“I feel like I am starting to get going,” May said.
“I have got a fair bit to offer still, there are few missed opportunities that I am feeling out there. But I am getting myself into the right positions. I am feeling like our back six is gelling well together now, we are starting to get some continuity.
“I definitely have another gear to go up and that’s my goal to play the best footy I can for the footy club and to show them why I came down here to help them out and to be a leader down there. So, hopefully, I can keep continuing to do that.”
With the Melbourne’s form turning to claim wins in their past two matches, May has been relishing the Demons’ time on the road in their interstate hub and the chance to it has given the group to bond more.
“When I was on the Gold Coast you got to know a lot of people a lot better because we all weren’t from the Goldy,” May said. “Whereas everyone in Melbourne has their own families and their own friends, you didn’t get those bonds, you sort of got them on away games.
“But now we have been on a away game for a while now, three or four weeks and a lot of the families are on the trip with us, so it has been good in that sense, learning more about your teammates and their families.
MORE AFL:
AFL Rich 100: First 50 players revealed
AFL heavyweights in the mix for Cairns move
Tasmania slams border shut on AFL
“Mealtime is always fun, there is kids running around, throwing food and stuff and we all take our turns babysitting for the mums for an hour so they can eat their dinner. Everyone is chipping in where possible.
“There has been lots made about the hub life, but I have personally been enjoying it. But I think that comes on the back of a couple of wins as well, that always changes the mood.”
Originally published as Melbourne defender Steven May admits he felt pressure to perform after ‘letting everyone down’ in his first year as a Demon