AFL 2020: Melbourne players will respect any teammates who don’t want to leave home

The new AFL reality means some players just won’t be able to move interstate with their teams, and Melbourne defender Steven May says that has to be respected.

Jack Viney with his baby Mila. Pic: Instagram

The new AFL reality means some players just won’t be able to move interstate with their teams, and Melbourne defender Steven May says that has to be respected.

With interstate hubs for Victorian teams increasingly likely amid border restrictions in Queensland and now South Australia, players are mentally preparing to be away from home for a while.

May, who doesn’t have children, said there would be “all sorts of reasons” for players, including his teammates, choosing not to go and that no one would argue.

He said even if it meant Demons star Jack Viney, who became a father just last Friday, couldn’t move with the team he would have everyone’s support in his decision.

“I’m not in a position to tell people who can or can’t go and what’s important to them,” May said.

“It might not just be kids, it might be sick family members, there are all sorts of reasons, the COVID stuff, they could be worried about that.

“I’m not going to sit here and say it’s not good enough and they have to go in the hub. That’s not just in the hub, during the season players miss games with personal issues.

The Demons’ Steven May says he will support any teammates who don’t want to join an interstate hub. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“I can’t speak for those players, and if some of my teammates were strongly against or felt they needed to not go for whatever reason, I’d support that.

“That’s just the reality of the season. I don’t have kids or anything like that, I don’t have those challenges in front of me.

“I’m just trying to get this season going, get in as many games as we can however that may look.”

Melbourne has had its season adversely impacted by COVID-19 three times already. It played the opening round of the season after the AFL declared the season would be suspended.

Two players were suspended for breaching biosecurity protocols, then its round three clash with Essendon was postponed after Bomber Conor McKenna tested positive for coronavirus.

May said the Demons, who have a win and a loss since the season resumed, were rolling with the changes as much as possible.

“I think everyone is being open and agile, we’ve known what this season was going to provide. We played round one and then the season got called off. It’s just preparing for whatever happens,” he said.

“Our fixture has been changed this week, and our focus shifts straight to Richmond. By the end of next week we could be playing someone else, somewhere else. There is uncertainty, but we are all getting used to being in these uncomfortable situations.”

Originally published as AFL 2020: Melbourne players will respect any teammates who don’t want to leave home