Stef Martin knocked out in brutal bump from Gold Coast Suns Steven May

GOLD Coast enforcer Steven May faces a lengthy mid-season break after a brutal bump that knocked out Brisbane ruckman Stef Martin. WATCH THE HIT AND VOTE

GOLD Coast enforcer Steven May faces the prospect of a lengthy mid-season break after being reported for a brutal head-on bump that knocked out Brisbane ruckman Stef Martin at the Gabba.

Martin did not move after the incident, Lions medical staff rushing to the felled ruckman in the centre square.

The Lions big man had to be carted from the field on a stretcher with a precautionary neck brace fitted.

How many weeks is Steven May looking at for this hit? #AFLLionsSuns pic.twitter.com/oGdXu3oPvJ

— Triple M Footy (@triplemfooty) April 16, 2016

Cheap shot by May.... could've gone body to body but elected to jump and pulverise Martin's head... May won't be back until May

— Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) April 16, 2016

May already has an applicable bad record for that hit on Rocky last year. Would add another game. If it doesn't go straight to the tribunal

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) April 16, 2016

Steven May is en route a mid season holiday

— Jared Petrenko (@jpetrenko23) April 16, 2016

Gaz also pushed Martin into the bump; does that become a factor for MRP? @JBrown poor decision,4 weeks for mine @FOXFootyLive #AFLLionsSuns

— Steph Chiocci (@Steph_Chiocci) April 16, 2016

The ugly incident close to halftime sparked an all-in brawl with Lions players rushing May who has an existing bad record at the AFL Tribunal felling Tom Rockliff in the corresponding game last year.

May served a three-game ban for the bump on Rockliff.

Martin was contesting for a loose ball with Suns skipper Gary Ablett when May — coming from the opposite direction — lined him up.

May looked to have eyes only for Martin and was totally off the ground when contact was made.

Stef Martin knocked out in the centre of the Gabba. Picture: Jono Searle

It’s expected the AFL match review panel will send May directly to the tribunal with the incident likely to be graded intentional and high impact.

The maximum penalty available to the MRP is three weeks.

Martin spent the third quarter in the rooms under medical supervision but emerged in the last quarter to watch from the interchange bench.

Originally published as Stef Martin knocked out in brutal bump from Gold Coast Suns Steven May