‘You’re missing the point’: Greats lock horns as ‘dumb’ footy claim sparks debate over Dees star

AFL great Jason Dunstall has launched into a staunch defence of Melbourne’s Steven May after his three-match ban for rough conduct was upheld at the AFL Tribunal earlier this week.

The incident - where May concussed Carlton forward Francis Evans - has divided the football community but after an unsuccessful Tribunal case, the Dees yesterday confirmed they would be heading to the AFL Appeals Board to try again.

It’s “football’s ultimate polarising case”, according to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph.

FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

“Melbourne believes this is not just a throw at the stumps, this is a compelling case. They’ll focus on it being unreasonable for any Tribunal to come to this decision,” Ralph said on Fox Footy’s Thursday Night Footy broadcast.

“They were shocked at Francis Evans’ text, where he basically conceded that Steven May he thought would get to the ball first, was not admitted to the Tribunal… has the game changed forever?”

Ralph’s question was prompted by Geelong champion Joel Selwood’s comments on 3AW radio earlier, where he said “sometimes I think players play dumb, it’s changing before our eyes but get with it”.

Dunstall then proceeded to passionately give his thoughts for the situation at hand.

“I don’t think it’s dumb football. I’m not outraged, I’m genuinely disheartened by the decision though. I don’t get how you can sit there and say, ‘you needed to adjust your approach just before the contact’, without saying the same thing to Frankie Evans and saying ‘you needed to do exactly the same thing’,” he began.

“It was only the last bounce of the ball that allowed Evans to get there before May. If it had’ve gone forward instead of sitting up and coming back, then May gets to the ball first. How can you say to one of them you have to temper your approach, but not the other when it’s a 50-50 ball? Why aren’t both of them pulling up if you’re telling one of them to pull up?

Mitchell on 'embracing the villain role' | 09:37

North Melbourne champion David King interjected: “Because one hits the head.”

Dunstall replied: “No you’re missing the point Kingy. I’m talking about trying to change.

“You just said you weren’t outraged,” King added.

“No, no. Change the action. What do you want us to do in that situation? And they’re going Steven May, you’ve got to be different the way you approach. Well why doesn’t the other bloke be a little bit different as well? Because no one knows who’s getting the ball until it actually gets in his hands,” Dunstall said.

King agreed, but believes the game has changed in recent times.

Voss "disappointed" in farewell loss | 11:30

“I agree with that and I think everyone agrees with that notion. But we’ve conditioned players to think that the duty of care is on both parties and they come back unprotected now and we’re seeing fallout like this and hits like this,” he said.

“I don’t have the answers, it’s just an opinion that I think the game has now changed to the point where you’ve got to assess these things. We’re seeing players adjust over the last six to eight weeks, we’re seeing players not pull out as such, but not put themselves in these positions.”

St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna gave his thoughts on the discussion as well.

“I’m with Jason. I think there was no other alternative for him. But now from what we’re hearing with the Tribunal decision, we are being told that players with a 50-50 ball need to attack it with caution,” Montagna quipped.

“The onus has to be on both players,” Dunstall interrupted.

Curnow: 'I am not leaving this club!' | 03:05

“Both players have to attack with caution because if they go unconditional like we’ve played the game for a hundred years, you’re going to get suspended if you get it wrong. There is a significant change if this ruling stands, that players need to approach a 50-50 ball with caution,” Montagna said.

King asked: “Do you concede the game has changed though?

Dunstall replied: “Absolutely and for the better. We’re protecting the head and I get that.

King pressed: “Do you like the change and where we’re going?

“I like looking after the players, yes. But there are still going to be some collisions in this game that you cannot say, ‘that’s your fault’. It is nobody’s fault… or both of their fault,” Dunstall finished.

May’s AFL Appeals Board hearing will occur at some stage next week given he has already been ruled out of Melbourne’s clash with St Kilda on Sunday due to concussion.

Click here to read article