Injured Demons recruit Steven May avoids club punishment after weekend drinking session

Steven May has avoided a club sanction after pictures emerged of the injured recruit drinking at a pub, with the Demons defender addressing his off-field battles with teammates.

Steven May is enduring a tough first season at the Demons. Pic: Getty Images

Remorseful Melbourne defender Steven May addressed some of his personal struggles when he apologised to teammates for breaking a “blanket ban” on drinking alcohol while injured on Sunday.

The former Gold Coast co-captain briefly touched on some “personal” and relationship problems and the frustration of his ongoing groin issues, during a short early-morning meeting with players and officials at the club.

Former Suns teammate Daniel Gorringe said he met May and a few friends at a Richmond pub on Sunday to help talk through some issues “going on in his life”.

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Gorringe said May probably consumed about “two or three beers” on the day.

“He was feeling a bit down on himself and wanted to talk about a few things,” Gorringe said on 3AW.

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“So we thought go and have a beer and a chat and, as males, talk about things that are hard to talk about.

“We didn’t disturb anyone or cause a scene. We just thought we would stay in a little corner there.”

Steven May has had a tough first season at the Dees. Pic: AAP

May, 27, will not be sanctioned for the pub session and remains six to seven weeks away from returning from his groin problem.

However, the club wants May to meet the standards expected of its rehabilitating players, including staying off alchohol while injured.

The episode is another public setback for the high-priced recruit who attracted strong criticism for arriving at the club late last year in below-par physical condition.

Superstar ruckman Max Gawn said the club was mindful May’s personal situation but was adamant the Demons knew to keep off alcohol completely while in rehabilitation.

“We do have a no-drinking in rehab rule, so that is a rule,” Gawn said on RSN.

Football manager Josh Mahoney said the club would strongly support May, but have made it clear alcohol cannot be used as a “coping mechanism” for personal issues.

“Steven May has been dealing with some personal issues for a period of time now ... he made a poor decision on the weekend to go to a pub,” Mahoney said.

Melbourne recruit Steven May spotted drinking over the weekend.

“It’s not a good look for him and not in line with what we’re trying to set and the standards we’re trying to set as a footy club.

“He’s acknowledged that this is a poor decision that he’s made and it’s something we speak to our players a lot, that people are going through tough times a lot, but alcohol can’t be a coping mechanism.”

The star defender will undertake a program including counselling to help him through the next few months.

Policies on drinking alcohol vary between clubs. But generally it is accepted that players should try and stay away from it while injured, to give them the best chance of recovering quickly.

Mahoney said the Demons had not lost faith in May’s ability or character.

“The one thing you want to do (coming to a new footy club) is being out there on the field and it’s been a frustrating start for him,” Mahoney said.

“Some off-field personal issues have added to that, it can be a lonely place in rehab and sometimes those issues become bigger.

“He’s getting on top of those things and we got to get around Steven and support him through that.

“He’s an easy target now ... and he’s probably getting smashed externally particularly around his character but we trust he’s a good character, he’s a strong person, he’s going to be a really important contributor for our footy club.”

AFL greats Garry Lyon, Gerard Healy and Jon Brown were all critical of May’s decision to drink alcohol on Monday night.

“I’m disappointed and I’m disappointed for Steven May, he’s had a troubled start at the Demons,” Healy said on Fox Footy.

“And to be caught out or even just to do it behind closed doors, to me suggests the bloke hasn’t learned his lessons.”

But former Richmond star Matthew Richardson said it was “not even a story”.

North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey empathised with the man who arrived at the club in place of Jesse Hogan late last year.

“When you’re injured, I get it,” Carey said on Triple M.

“That first 48 hours, even week if you’ve got a soft tissue injury, it’s obviously very important (to not drink)… but you’ve also got a life, you’ve got have an outlet.

“What do people expect him to do, sit at home on his stationary bike watching the footy the whole time?”