AFL integrity unit looking into why police visited May

Melbourne veteran Steven May is being investigated by the AFL integrity unit, as the premiership defender stays away from Demons training.

The 34-year-old was a notable absentee when Melbourne trained at Gosch’s Paddock on Wednesday morning.

Later on Wednesday, Melbourne released a statement saying the club was aware Victoria Police attended May’s house last Thursday, but would not comment further.

The circumstances of why police were called to May’s home remain unknown.

Speaking at a partnership extension with Virgin Australia, AFL boss Andrew Dillon confirmed the league was investigating May’s situation.

“We’ve been kept abreast of that by Melbourne,” Dillon said on Thursday.

“Our integrity unit is across it at the moment.”

Since it emerged last Friday that police had visited his home the previous day, May has deleted his Instagram account.

A star of Melbourne’s drought-breaking 2021 premiership, May will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season.

The former Gold Coast co-captain was a key figure in last year’s trade period, but failed to find a new home.

Off the field, May and Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia are fighting criminal charges after a late-2024 brawl in Sorrento on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

Last month, the pair asked for the charges to be withdrawn, saying they were not there.

They are due to face Frankston Magistrates Court again on February 20.

May, 34, played 16 senior games last year for a career total of 251.

He also had a much-scrutinised argument on the field with captain Max Gawn after the narrow King’s Birthday loss to Collingwood.

May has been a regular in the Demons’ best 23 for several seasons, but that is now in question.

The Demons are in major transition, with coach Simon Goodwin sacked last year and Steven King appointed for his first senior role.

Star onballers Christian Petracca (Gold Coast) and Clayton Oliver (GWS) were traded after last season.