By Peter Ryan
Teammates of Melbourne defender Steven May and veteran utility Jake Melksham had to separate the pair as an altercation that began inside a Prahran restaurant escalated into a fight on Greville Street on Sunday evening.
May, 30, and a key member of the team’s drought-breaking premiership in 2021, had to apologise to teammates for the incident, which the owners of the restaurant Entrecote described as more than a scuffle.
Red and the blue: Jake Melksham and Steven May.Credit: Getty Images
May was also suspended for a match meaning he will miss the vital Queen’s Birthday match against Collingwood after acknowledging he had been drinking while in the concussion protocols, a clear breach of club rules.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn and vice-captain Jack Viney were not at the restaurant but were part of the group of leaders that endorsed the decision to suspend May from Monday’s game, which the Demons enter after back-to-back losses at the MCG.
Club football manager Alan Richardson said the pair were remorseful after the “lighthearted disagreement became an altercation” with News Corp reporting May telling Melksham the Demons would have lost the grand final if he had played sparked the incident. The Age was unable to confirm the comment.
May had acknowledged he should not have been drinking, as he was out due to concussion protocols.
Melksham, 30, will be allowed to play this weekend but along with May will engage in community work, as the club acknowledged the incident that occurred after dinner was not acceptable.
A source with knowledge of the incident said none of the half a dozen players who were out for dinner at the restaurant were in the club’s leadership group or, apart from May, considered key players.
A post was placed on Entrecote’s Instagram story on Tuesday evening criticising both the club and the player for not apologising to the staff or those who had been at restaurant after the incident.
May told a club video the pair remained friends despite the fight, and they had reassured teammates they didn’t need to “pick sides or anything” as they were “all good”.
“It was something we tried to deal with ourselves,” May said.
“But we told our teammates today we’re all fine – don’t feel like you have to pick sides or anything.
“We’re still good friends and it was just a silly decision that we made and deeply regret already.”
Richardson said the players had been drinking when a disagreement escalated. They later informed the club of the incident.
“Both Jake and Steven had been drinking at dinner and are incredibly remorseful that things played out the way they did,” Richardson said.
“Given Steven is still under the AFL concussion protocols from round 11, he was aware that under club guidelines he should not have been drinking.
“The leadership group has recommended to impose a one-match ban on Steven, a decision which has been endorsed by the club’s broader leadership. This will make him unavailable for both AFL and VFL selection.
“Steven and Jake will also complete community service through one of the club’s community partners to ensure they understand the responsibility and impact they have as role models within the community.
“Over the past three years, Steven has developed into one of our most important on-field leaders, and while the impact of not having him available for selection is significant, what is more significant to us is our culture and the commitment we have to live by our values.
“Steven is extremely remorseful and accepts his actions were completely out of step with the expectations the club and his teammates have of him. He accepts the sanction handed down and makes no excuse for his poor judgment.”
May’s absence is significant, as the Demons have lost their past two matches after he went down early in round 11 with concussion. He then missed the match against Sydney.
May has previously been disciplined by the Demons for drinking while injured, and had issues with his fitness when he arrived at Melbourne after the 2018 season. Teammate Michael Hibberd said last year that tough discussions between coach Simon Goodwin and May had “turned around” the defender’s career.
He is now regarded as one of the competition’s best backmen and a solid teammate in 59 matches with the Demons. Melksham missed out on playing in the club’s premiership but has been a popular figure in the playing group for his contribution in rebuilding the club.
Meanwhile another premiership contender in Fremantle have also dealt with a player discipline issue on Tuesday, suspending emerging forward Michael Frederick for one match after he breached club rules by drinking on a six-day break.
Michael Frederick won’t face the Hawks on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
Frederick starred against the Brisbane Lions, kicking two goals in the final quarter, before drinking after the game.
The club’s football manager Peter Bell said the 22-year-old accepted the suspension and won’t face Hawthorn on Saturday.
“Michael is remorseful and makes no excuses for his actions,” Bell said.
“The club is proud of the culture it has built in recent years and that is mainly due to the strong commitment to the trademark that the players and staff adhere to every day.”
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