An AFL coach is “all for” the fine handed to Melbourne’s Steven May, while another says the defender “would be embarrassed” by his act.
May was sanctioned by the Match Review Officer after exaggerating a tackle on Saturday night against North Melbourne, driving his head into the MCG turf in order to draw a free kick from the umpire.
On Monday night, GWS senior coach Adam Kingsley was supportive of the $1,875 punishment ($1,250 with an early plea) the 32-year-old received on Sunday night.
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Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Kingsley stressed a need for “change” amid heightened awareness around head injuries and their long-term effects.
“Yeah, it (May’s act) certainly has to be fined, and it has to be a pretty heavy fine,” Kingsley stated on Monday night.
“There’s got to be a change of action, and so for the action to change there’s got to be a fair punishment — so, yeah, I’m all for it.”
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick said May would be “a bit embarrassed” thinking back to the incident, going on to emphasise the difficult position umpires have been placed in.
“I think he’d be a bit embarrassed about it, wouldn’t he?” said Hardwick, chuckling. “I think we’ve got to be careful, because the umpires are put in a really delicate situation and there were a couple (of instances) on the weekend where (tackles) did look dangerous, and the players probably emphasised that they hit their head and (they) didn’t quite (hit their head).
“But I think they’re doing a pretty god job at the moment — both the players and the umpires — we’re moving forward, I think.”
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Collingwood champion Nathan Buckley also voiced his thoughts on May’s action on Monday morning, calling for suspensions for players who feigned severe contact in similar ways.
“Staging has been a part of the game — I reckon I’ve got two (bad ones) I can remember. I can only imagine how Steven May is feeling right now, but that doesn’t escape the reality of what he chose to do,” Buckley told SEN Breakfast.
“I actually think it sits on the worse level of staging, for me, because of what this rule is there to do. This rule is there to protect players and protect the head, it’s come in as a medico legal reason … it’s for the protection of players.
“The fact that a teammate of Steven May’s in Angus Brayshaw has left the game because of concussive effects — and they hand out an award at the end of every game out of respect to Brayshaw — and that would be about courage, (sportsmanship) and playing the game with the right demeanour.
“Whatever the opposite of that is, I think that’s what Steven May did. I know he wouldn’t feel great about it, and in 24 hours it will be gone (from people’s minds).
“But I think anyone who accentuates head contact in a tackle and does it so blatantly like that, I think it should be a week (of suspension). It should be elevated beyond a normal staging free kick or fine.”