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“Huge weight off”: Steven May breaks silence over dropped charges
Andrew Slevison & Jaiden Sciberras • May 13th, 2026 3:53 pm
Former Sun, Demon and AFL All-Australian Steven May has spoken for the first time since his charges were dropped over an alleged incident at Sorrento Hotel.
Amid ongoing legal battles, May retired from AFL football ahead of the 2026 season, departing the Dees after seven years and 15 seasons at the top level. The charges were later dismissed, with he and Tiger Dion Prestia deemed innocent over the incident from December of 2024.
May joined SEN Dwayne's World on Wednesday afternoon, opening up on the mental challenges of balancing football with the ongoing trial, his decision to retire and his future away from football.
“Charges finally dropped on Friday, it’s been a big 18 months,” May said.
“Your name gets dragged through the media. I know I don’t have the greatest name already so that didn’t help.
“Especially when you were so innocent in something. You can’t really do much or say much because it’s a criminal charge.
“I feel for Dion. He’s still playing and has got different hurdles he has to get through. It was a huge weight off both of our shoulders.”
With all the media talk that has surrounded May over the years, does he feel hard done by? Or has he expected the hard time he’s been given?
“100 per cent. If you’ve made a few mistakes in the past you grow a bit of a record, I guess,” he added.
“If you were to do something and you were innocent then no one is really going to believe you. They’ll look at the history.
“I’ve had a few indiscretions off-field, you could say. That definitely didn’t help. When you’re so innocent in something no one really believes you.
“The media were coming after me for the last year and a bit, and then on Friday I didn’t hear anything when the charges got dropped.
“I know that’s the nature of the beast, that doesn’t sell papers - 'charges withdrawn'. I get it, it’s what you signed up for.”
May also touched on how his career ended so abruptly after he announced his retirement in March despite being contracted for 2026.
He had prepared to play for the Demons with a full pre-season under his belt before experiencing what he describes as a “mental breakdown”, admitting that it did hurt to make the big decision to pull the pin.
“The worst part about it was I had just done a pre-season, and I hate pre-seasons. Some people love them but I really hate them,” he laughed.
“It was the end of January so I’d finally got through it and ready for a new year, I was injured all last season, had a bad year on the field. I was really ready to show people that I still have it, did the pre-season, ran a PB in January, up and about, let’s go.
“The had a bit of a mental breakdown and found myself a bit lost and not sure what to do. It came to a point where I had to put the club before myself. I was able to retire before the deadline so then they could get another player in and Patty Cross is playing good footy and Melbourne are flying.
“All in all it looks like it’s worked well for both parties.”
May admits he’ll miss pulling on the red and blue and running out onto the hallowed turf of the MCG.
“It does hurt not to be running out on the MCG every week, that really sucks,” he said.
If you or anyone you know is struggling or needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. Or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
