AFL Daily: Mitch Robinson's lesson from Steven May saga, rolling footy news for Wednesday May 8, 2019

Brisbane star and former Blue Mitch Robinson says Steven May is the latest victim of the Melbourne footy bubble - and shared his own memories of camera phones causing trouble. RECAP TODAY'S FOOTY NEWS

Welcome to our footy blog, AFL Daily!

Welcome to our footy blog, AFL Daily!

Every weekday we will be bringing you all the breaking footy news from across Australia as it happens.

We will be providing rolling news as it happens and giving you all the latest insights from our experts around the country.Whoever you support, there is only one place to be.

FOLLOW ALL TODAY’S AFL NEWS AS IT HAPPENS IN THE BLOG BELOW

Updates

3:52 pm February 1, 2025

Brisbane star and former Blue Mitch Robinson says Steven May is a victim of the Melbourne footy bubble.

"I understand the situation because I've been in it a few times in my career," he said on his weekly YouTube show Rip Through It.

Robinson, who said he texted his support to former Gold Coast captain May last night, said the incident should serve as a warning for players from expansion clubs who wanted to be traded to a Melbourne club.

"Every player that I talk that that's wanting to go to Melbourne I always say, 'Mate, I've been there, it's not a glamorous life, it's not what you think it is.

"They think you're in the papers, you're getting noticed, all the girls will know who you are … but you become a target if you go out to clubs, people want to get in the paper so they start on you, they get in your face.

"I had six years in the Melbourne bubble and obviously I didn't thrive in that situation, and I've come up to Brisbane and I'm loving life up here. It's not the fact that I can go down to the pub and have a beer, it's just feels so stress-free and you can get about your business the way you want to.

"If I was going to be traded as a player, I'd come up here."

Robinson said he had also fallen victim to camera phones in an incident at the Big Day Out in 2013 that led to him being ordered to perform two months' community service and donate $1000 to charity.

"Even at that Big Day Out thing instead of breaking that fight up there were 50 camera phones on you straight away."

The Lions forward said most clubs had rules against drinking while in rehab for soft-tissue injuries and May had made the wrong decision to have a beer with friends at a Richmond pub on Sunday.

"All (he) can do now is put his head down and bum up. He's got a chip on his shoulder, look out for Steven May when he comes back to AFL, that's for sure."

5:20 pm May 8, 2019

Al Paton

That's a wrap for another huge day of AFL news. Scroll down to recap all today's headlines and join us from 7am tomorrow for another edition of AFL Daily.

5:20 pm May 8, 2019 Highlight

May mistake a warning: Robbo

Al Paton

Brisbane star and former Blue Mitch Robinson says Steven May is a victim of the Melbourne footy bubble.

"I understand the situation because I've been in it a few times in my career," he said on his weekly YouTube show Rip Through It.

Robinson, who said he texted his support to former Gold Coast captain May last night, said the incident should serve as a warning for players from expansion clubs who wanted to be traded to a Melbourne club.

"Every player that I talk that that's wanting to go to Melbourne I always say, 'Mate, I've been there, it's not a glamorous life, it's not what you think it is.

"They think you're in the papers, you're getting noticed, all the girls will know who you are … but you become a target if you go out to clubs, people want to get in the paper so they start on you, they get in your face.

"I had six years in the Melbourne bubble and obviously I didn't thrive in that situation, and I've come up to Brisbane and I'm loving life up here. It's not the fact that I can go down to the pub and have a beer, it's just feels so stress-free and you can get about your business the way you want to.

"If I was going to be traded as a player, I'd come up here."

Robinson said he had also fallen victim to camera phones in an incident at the Big Day Out in 2013 that led to him being ordered to perform two months' community service and donate $1000 to charity.

"Even at that Big Day Out thing instead of breaking that fight up there were 50 camera phones on you straight away."

The Lions forward said most clubs had rules against drinking while in rehab for soft-tissue injuries and May had made the wrong decision to have a beer with friends at a Richmond pub on Sunday.

"All (he) can do now is put his head down and bum up. He's got a chip on his shoulder, look out for Steven May when he comes back to AFL, that's for sure."

4:04 pm May 8, 2019 Highlight

Goodwin backs under-fire May

Liam Twomey

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is confident Steven May will deliver great things for the club, insisting the under-fire AFL recruit is working hard behind the scenes.

The former Gold Coast skipper fronted his Demons teammates on Tuesday to apologise for breaching the club’s policy of not drinking while injured. Sidelined with a groin injury since round two, May was seen spending Sunday afternoon drinking at a Melbourne bar.

Goodwin on Wednesday said the incident had been blown out of proportion and the club was not going to “crucify” May, who has been dealing with issues in his personal life, for having a couple of quiet beers on the weekend.
May arrived at the club out of shape, injured his hamstring during the pre- season, missed round one through suspension then injured his groin.
His latest setback prompted former Demons coach Paul Roos to suggest he was not making football a priority.

But Goodwin staunchly defended his star recruit, saying the 27-year-old had worked hard on his conditioning and was being unfairly maligned.
“He knows it’s not the right thing to do but in saying that, it’s not a big issue,” Goodwin told reporters.

“I think it’s gone way over the top in terms of the (coverage).
“Steven’s obviously frustrated he’s not playing but he’s doing a lot of work internally around the footy club to be a really good player … and that’s probably getting missed.

“We’ve got an incredible amount of support and belief in Steven and I’m really confident that when we get him back, he’s going to play some outstanding footy.”
Goodwin said he had been aware of May’s personal issues for some time, noting that it had been May’s choice to share those issues with his teammates. May is expected to join the main group in training in a couple of weeks and could resume playing at some level next month.

“No one right now can see where he’s at except the people inside (the club),” Goodwin said.

“For guys to be taking photos of guys (off the field) and sending them in to media outlets, I find that a little disturbing … but that’s the world that we live in.”

3:24 pm May 8, 2019

‘That’s my boy’: What Bevo said to VAFA ump

Liam Twomey

PAUL AMY

The VAFA has dismissed suggestions Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confronted the umpires at a Premier B section match last Saturday.

“Certainly not. Absolutely untrue. Yes, Luke Beveridge spoke to the umpires but in no way could it be called aggressive or a confrontation,’’ umpires coach Peter Marshall said this morning.

Beveridge was watching his son Kye play for St Bedes Mentone Tigers against Fitzroy Lions at the Brindisi St Oval.

FULL STORY: https://bit.ly/2Vb6Gfv

3:00 pm May 8, 2019 Highlight

Where is the tribunal system at?

Liam Twomey

Is Gary Ablett’s victory at the AFL tribunal – and similar wins for Dustin Martin, Shane Mumford and Mason Cox – proof that the system works?
Or does the 55 per cent success rate for players who have fronted the tribunal in 2019 undermine the findings of match review officer Michael Christian?
Geelong star Ablett on Tuesday night became the fifth player this season to have a suspension downgraded or reduced to a fine.

Fellow Brownlow Medallist and Richmond star Dustin Martin notably convinced the tribunal to halve his two-match suspension for striking.

Four other players have lost their appeals, including Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker for a rough conduct charge during the pre-season competition.
Ablett had never previously been suspended in his illustrious 328-game career, and the tribunal jury took just three minutes to find him not guilty of intentionally striking Essendon opponent Dylan Shiel during Sunday’s game at the MCG.

The two-time Brownlow Medallist was instead charged with careless conduct and fined $2000 over the incident in which he arrived late to a contest and caught Shiel in the head with his forearm.

Clubs are forced to pay $10,000 for unsuccessful challenges but are far more inclined to challenge suspensions than they were under the old regime, where players risked an extra week being added to their bans if they failed at the tribunal.

Christian was given sole responsibility for determining the initial sanctions in an AFL overhaul of the match review process that came into effect last year. Importantly, Christian’s determinations are primarily based on video footage and medical reports, while it is open to the tribunal to consider a wide range of factors.

Christian has been steadfast that successful tribunal challenges indicate the system is working, a view echoed by North Melbourne coach Brad Scott last month.

– AAP

3:52 pm February 1, 2025

Jeremy Cameron has his coach feeling “really, really confident” that the competition’s leading goalkicker won’t be going anywhere.

The Herald Sun reported on Saturday that Cameron — who has kicked 30 goals in seven rounds to be on track to be the first player to kick a century in a season since 2008 – was in Geelong’s sights, with the Cats eyeing the star as a potential successor to spearhead Tom Hawkins.

Giants coach Leon Cameron admits he is “a bit biased”, but said the changing landscape had boosted the likelihood of players staying in orange.

“I’m really confident because of just what’s happened in the past four or five years,” Cameron said on The Superfooty Podcast.

“Maybe you would have had to sell the whole kitchen sink and the whole house to keep players early, but now you point out to where the club’s going, where we’ve been, membership is now over 25,000 and pushing 26, we hope to get that close to 30 this year, our crowds are growing … obviously we’ve been in the finals for the last three years, which is always enticing for a player to stay at his footy club.

“It’s easier for me, so in terms of the level of confidence, really, really confident, because Jeremy’s not only playing some really good footy now, but he’s been in from the start.

“It’s his eighth year at the club, and he’s spent over half of his footy career here already.

“I don’t see any issues with Jeremy wanting to spend the next seven or eight years at our footy club, as well.’

Cameron said the recent record of Giants players including Toby Greene and Josh Kelly signing on was also a boost for keeping key players.

“Toby Greene’s locked away for a long period of time, we’ve seen Josh Kelly put pen to paper … I’m confident in Stephen Coniglio as well,” he said.

“These key people play a big part in your footy club on your playing list … I think they want to be one-club players and have started and want to finish here.”

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST

3:52 pm February 1, 2025

It is the news that will have Richmond supporters on high alert come the announcement of this week’s teams.
Star Fremantle trio Joel Hamling, Nat Fyfe and Bradley Hill all missed training today.
The Dockers face the Tigers in a crunch clash on Sunday afternoon, with both teams holding a 4-3 win-loss record.
However, Fremantle coach Ross Lyon wasn’t too concerned with his missing stars.
“It’s about getting rest and going top speed in the final session,” he told reporters at his weekly media session.

2:16 pm May 8, 2019

Star Docker trio miss training

Liam Twomey

It is the news that will have Richmond supporters on high alert come the announcement of this week’s teams.
Star Fremantle trio Joel Hamling, Nat Fyfe and Bradley Hill all missed training today.
The Dockers face the Tigers in a crunch clash on Sunday afternoon, with both teams holding a 4-3 win-loss record.
However, Fremantle coach Ross Lyon wasn’t too concerned with his missing stars.
“It’s about getting rest and going top speed in the final session,” he told reporters at his weekly media session.

1:48 pm May 8, 2019 Highlight

Exile has made me better: Collins

Liam Twomey

Gold Coast defender Sam Collins can only be thankful for his second chance at an AFL career.

The ex-Fremantle player was cut adrift by the Dockers at the end of the 2017 season and spent last year playing in the VFL with Werribee. Despite the Tigers missing the finals, Collins won the club’s best and fairest and polled third in the state league’s Liston Trophy count.

It was enough to convince the Suns to give him another shot at the top level. The 24-year-old has played in all seven matches for the Suns, impressing especially in the early weeks of the year as the Suns claimed three wins from the opening four rounds.

While Collins is new to the club, he’s already making a name for himself as an on-field leader, something he says he developed during his time with Werribee.
“I’ve looked to come out of my shell a bit earlier on – direct, instruct and organise a bit more out there because last year that’s what got me back on the list,” Collins told AAP.

“I want to keep doing that and keep building and make sure I’m still improving as a player.”
After playing just 14 games in two seasons with Fremantle before being cut, Collins says his year at Werribee has not only improved him as a player it has given him a deeper appreciation of how much he wants to prove himself in the AFL.

“I’ve got a great perspective of what it’s like not playing AFL,” he said.
“I was at uni before I was drafted first (and) it’s not the same as working full-time.

“Very appreciative of what I’ve got and not really willing to let up too easy, just need to keep working hard and keep making myself better. That’s the way to go.”

– AAP