Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL briefing:
- Melbourne premiership player Steven May has spoken about the sudden finish to his AFL career.
- Essendon great James Hird spent time in hospital after being struck down on the set of Footy Classified.
- Collingwood ruckman Darcy Cameron has been ruled out of Friday night’s clash against Sydney.
The Sydney Swans are walking away from their annual Pride Game against St Kilda, instead scheduling the game which celebrates “inclusivity with our LGBTIQA+ community” against a different AFL opponent.
Following the recent tribunal case of St Kilda’s Lance Collard, who was penalised for using a homophobic slur in the VFL, the Swans have confirmed their annual Pride match will instead feature the Western Bulldogs at the SCG in round 17.
“In consultation with the Rainbow Swans, members of the LGBTIQA+ community and the St Kilda Football Club, we felt it was appropriate to shift our 2026 Pride match to ensure the game has the positive impact that is intended,” Sydney said in a statement on Wednesday night.
Sydney and St Kilda pioneered the Pride Game concept, with the inaugural match taking place in 2016.
Sydney’s home game against the Saints is in round 13, also at the SCG.
In a complex case in which young Saint Collard’s original penalty for using a homophobic slur in a game against Frankston was reduced on appeal to four weeks (with two suspended), the AFL subsequently removed the appeals board’s chairman, Will Houghton, KC.
Amid widespread criticism of the board’s findings, league boss Andrew Dillon rejected the assertion it was commonplace for players to use offensive language in “highly competitive” levels of football.
In a letter to members on Wednesday, St Kilda confirmed Sydney’s altered plans for their Pride match.
“I wanted to communicate with you directly on a matter that is important to us as a club. Many of you will be aware that our round 13 game against Sydney had been designated in the fixture as the AFL Pride Game,” CEO Carl Dilena wrote.
“Following the extensive media coverage of the recent AFL tribunal matter and associated public reaction, our club has been in discussions with Sydney Swans, the Rainbow Swans supporter group, Pride Cup, and the AFL.
“I want to thank everyone involved for the respectful and constructive way those discussions have been approached. As a result of those conversations, the decision has been made that our match with Sydney this year will no longer be played under the Pride Game banner.”
Dilena was adamant the Saints “remain deeply committed to LGBTQIA+ and First Nations inclusion in sport at every level”.
“While we would have preferred to proceed with the Pride Game designation to support inclusion and education, we understand and support the decision given the impact the recent publicity has had on members of the LGBTQIA+ and First Nations communities,” Dilena wrote.
“St Kilda has a long and proud history of inclusion. Alongside Sydney, we helped establish the AFL Pride Game in 2016 because we believe football should be a place where everyone feels welcome, safe and respected. These values are important for our staff, our players, our fans and our community.”
In launching this year’s Pride Game in February, Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich stressed it was an important match on their calendar.
“It’s a reflection of our commitment to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment at our games and a great celebration of football and diversity,” Pavlich said.
In February, the Swans said they became the first professional sporting club to have a float in the Mardi Gras Parade eight years ago. Members of the club’s AFL and AFLW programs this year marched in the parade for a ninth consecutive year.
– Scott Spits
Steven May reveals ‘mental breakdown’
Roy Ward
Melbourne premiership defender Steven May has revealed he had a “mental breakdown” before his sudden retirement in March.
May, 34, spoke to SEN on Wednesday about the final two years of his career, and the police charges levelled against him and Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia for alleged involvement in an altercation in Sorrento on December 27, 2024. Prosecutors dropped the charges 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.”
The former Gold Coast and Demons star believed he was on track to be a part of new coach Steven King’s team this season before deciding to retire, allowing the club to fill his spot with Paddy Cross.
“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,” May said.
“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 and 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.
“Then 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 Paddy Cross is playing good footy and Melbourne are flying. All in all, it looks like it’s worked well for both parties.”
May, who is training to work in commercial real estate and playing for Eastern Football League club East Ringwood this year, praised King and believed he would have had a “clean slate” with the new coach.
“There were no priors, he said he would give me a clean slate like every other player. He was really good, he was true to his word and very supportive. I could see he was going to be a good coach, I didn’t realise he was going to be this good this quick.
“Another part of my decision to retire was that ‘Kingy’ needed to come in with fresh air. They’d moved on a few star players [Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver], I still had the charges hanging over my head, I knew that was a distraction to the footy club even though they didn’t really say it. I could feel it.
“There comes a point where you’ve got to make a decision that’s best for my family but also for the footy club. My family is happy and the club is flying, so I’m pretty stoked with it.”
When asked if he was looking to return to the AFL, May said he was happily retired and preparing for some internships in the real estate industry.
“I’m happy. Finishing footy was a hard decision but it was one that was on my shoulders for a while,” he said. “Once you make that decision to retire, to come out of retirement for a few months would be silly for someone my age and the space I’m in mentally.
“It is a bit easier not having to prepare for the best forward and being anxious all week – it has been a nice change to my life, my balance has been a lot better and I’ve had a lot of family time.”
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James Hird hospitalised after falling ill on set of Footy Classified
Jon Pierik
Essendon great James Hird was hospitalised after becoming sick while recording an episode of Footy Classified on Tuesday night.
Hird, a regular panelist alongside host Eddie McGuire, was heard coughing in the early stages of filming after a “bit of food was stuck in his throat”, a source with knowledge of the incident who wished to remain anonymous said.
The cast of the Jam-TV produced show aired on Nine had enjoyed Thai takeaway for dinner, with Hird having lamb.
Hird, 53, left the set to vomit during the first advertisement break, but returned and completed filming the hour-long show before heading to hospital.
The same source said Hird was in hospital for a short period, and then returned home.
He was back at work at Jam TV on Wednesday, helping to prepare for an episode of Footy Furnace.
The two-time premiership great and former coach was contacted for comment.
Meanwhile, the AFL has lost a second member of this year’s All-Australian selection panel after Luke Hodge joined Kane Cornes in stepping down to maintain his commercial arrangement with a bookmaker.
Four-time Hawthorn premiership player Hodge, added to the panel in February but yet to attend a selection meeting, said he gave up his spot to ensure the “integrity of the [All-Australian] side” was protected.
Cornes last week had no regrets about leaving the panel to protect his ties with Sportsbet.
In a change of policy, Sportsbet said it would no longer feature any sporting administrators or officials on its platforms “to ensure clear separation from their official roles”. Consequently, Sportsbet also parted with experienced AFL field umpire Nick Foot amid scrutiny and criticism of an umpire being on their books.
Similarly, Hodge put his ties with TAB ahead of any form of employment with the AFL.
“I’ve done the same as what Kane has done – I’ve stood down from the committee,” Hodge said on Seven’s Agenda Setters on Tuesday night.
“Because you don’t want the integrity questioned of anything like that.
“I’ve had a long-standing relationship with TAB. I haven’t even joined a meeting yet with the All-Australian committee, so I thought it was the best thing after speaking with the AFL today that I’ll stand down and let the panel go ahead – just so the integrity of the side when it gets picked, there’s no question over it.”
The All-Australian selectors are also charged with voting for the league’s annual Rising Star award – an award which some bookmakers take bets on.
Cameron added to missing Magpies
Jon Pierik
Star ruckman Darcy Cameron has been added to the list of missing Magpies for Friday night’s clash against Sydney, with Bobby Hill all but ruled out of the contest.
Cameron (ankle) will join skipper Darcy Moore (concussion), Patrick Lipinski (concussion), Harry Perryman (hamstring), Tim Membrey (hamstring) and veteran midfielder Scott Pendlebury (rested) on the sidelines, the Magpies opting to take a cautious approach with the reigning best and fairest.
“He [Cameron] has got a bit going on with his body,” McRae said, adding the athletic ruckman and his partner were also expecting their first child next week.
Cameron’s absence will mean Oscar Steene will shoulder more of the ruck load against dominant former Magpie Brodie Grundy.
“It’s one part of the game – we will try a few things,” McRae said.
Hill did not train on Wednesday, the small forward and his partner also expecting a child this weekend.
The 2023 Norm Smith medallist recently returned via the VFL after taking personal leave, but has yet to complete the work the Magpies want before he returns to senior action.
McRae initially said Hill was “unlikely” to play either VFL or AFL level this weekend, later declaring he is “not quite there” in terms of his GPS numbers.
“There’s still a level he is not quite meeting but, again, he has played one full game, so we’ll give him a bit of time and space around those things,” McRae said.
McRae said young forward Charlie West would be in selection contention, while he expected Moore and Lipinski to be back for Pendlebury’s record-breaking game against West Coast.
When Moore returns, McRae said he would chat to the key defender about his form, and how tightly he lines up on his opponent, having been exploited, at times, for his loose play by the Cats.
“I just think there’s a couple of things out of whack with the system, at times, and he hasn’t played much footy this year – the chemistry when I roll off my man to support others,” McRae said.
“Yeah, I think there’s definitely a form thing that we have to chat about.”
Moore has managed just the three senior games this season because of injury.
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