‘Utterly disgraceful’: AFL world savages Steven May over ‘awful look’

AFL fans and commentators have called for the game to stamp out one of the sport’s most controversial acts after a furore erupted.

Demons defender Steven May has landed in hot water after being accused of staging to earn his side a free kick in his side’s heart-stopping 11.4 (70) to 10.7 (67) win over North Melbourne.

Midway through the third term with the Demons leading by 15, May picked up a loose ball before North’s Eddie Ford caught hold for the star.

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Ford twisted May over 360 degrees to the ground.

May grabbed his head and it looked like it a sling tackle the AFL has been trying to get rid of in the game with the umpires pinging the incident as a “dangerous tackle”.

May took his time before getting to his feet before taking his kick, much to the displeasure of the Kangaroos faithful, who were baying for a holding the ball free kick.

But even more questions were asked after replays caught the Demons star out as May kept his head above the ground for the initial contact before putting his head down.

“It was perplexing for me. It wasn’t paid early. The umpiring really held onto it and didn’t pay it when the motion was made,” Jobe Watson said on Channel 7 commentary.

Former Demons skipper Nathan Jones agreed.

“It was not a free kick for mine,” Jones responded. “I don’t think there’s a genuine slinging, dumping motion. Obviously they are twisting, but I feel like his shoulder touched the ground first.”

On Sunday, the AFL’s Match Review Officer handed May a $1875 fine for staging.

Eleven players from both teams were fined a combined $41,250 for engaging in a melee/wrestle that broke out on the stroke of halftime.

May's head initially didn't hit the ground. Photo: Fox Sports

May grabbed his head. Photo: Fox Sports

Ex-AFLW star turned commentator Kate McCarthy also hit out at the move.

“This is an awful look IMO,” she tweeted. “Exactly what we are hoping NOT to see from players. Making their head hit the ground, then clutching at it. Umpires have a hard enough job, don’t be doing this crap.”

West Coast premiership player Will Schofield called for the AFL to stop the staging.

“Players holding their head after a ‘dangerous tackle’ should be immediately sent off the ground for assessment – whether they are faking or not,” he tweeted.

Fox Footy’s David Zita argued: “If Steven May isn’t given a staging fine tomorrow, there’s something wrong with the system.”

Speaking on the Fox Footy post-game, Zita said: “Staging in the guidelines is excessive exaggeration of contact in an unsportsmanlike manner. I don’t see how this doesn’t fit the criteria of staging.”

Tigers great Jack Riewoldt said: “If a player grabs their head, does that automatically signal that they need to have a concussion test?”

Riewoldt tried to give May the benefit of the doubt, arguing: “Did he hurt his shoulder and it went to his head or something? I dunno.”

May was fine after the incident. Photo: Fox Sports

North great David King wasn’t buying it.

“He milked it,” King said emphatically. “He milked it for the free kick.”

Crows and Blues great Eddie Betts added that because May was spun 360 degrees “the whistle should have been blow long before that” for a holding the ball penalty.

Ex-journo James Mottershead commented: “Eddie Ford gets done for a dangerous tackle because the umpire allowed May to spin twice in the tackle. What’s worse is had May actually hit his head Ford probably comes under MRO scrutiny, too. The game is cooked.”

“That’s embarrassing from Steven May! Deserves to cop a massive fine and all the heat that comes his way,” one fan said.

“Steven May pretending to hit his head in that tackle should cop a very significant fine, start making serious consequences for staging and yes he’s not the only one but that was utterly disgraceful,” another fan said.

Another added: “When do we start penalising the staging? Disappointing by May.”

Another wrote: “This game was killed after that idiotic umpire paid Steven May that bulls**t sling tackle free kick. Umpires ruin games people.”

AFL pundits have long called out staging but the last player to be fined for the act was Gold Coast’s Ben Ainsworth in July last year.

Another heartbreaker for the Roos. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Demons will be breathing a sigh of relief after North booted five unanswered goals in the final quarter to romp back into the match.

Cam Zurhaar and Eddie Ford led the surge with two goals each, with Zurhaar pouncing on a ground ball to snap his fourth goal and cut the margin to three points with just under four minutes left.

A desperate run-down tackle by Alex Neal-Bullen on Nick Larkey as the Roos forward streamed down the wing towards their forward line bought Melbourne a crucial minute in possession, but the Demons still rode their luck in the final minute as the bottom side launched one last desperate offensive off halfback.

North Melbourne pumped the ball inside 50 with 10 seconds left but the ball burst through the hands of Luke Davies-Uniacke, who had been colossal with nine disposals and four clearances in the final term.

Melbourne had looked in control at the final break as Jack Viney (12 clearances) dominated the stoppages, while Trent Rivers stepped in impressively in Christian Petracca’s absence after receiving a rare opportunity at centre bounces.

Rivers hardly wasted a kick and pushed forward for a classy goal on the run before halftime.

With Ed Bourke, Newswire

Originally published as ‘Utterly disgraceful’: AFL world savages Steven May over ‘awful look’