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With the news that Steven May’s time at Melbourne has come to an end, we want to acknowledge and thank him for everything he gave to the club during his time in the red and blue.

Steven was a premiership player and an important part of our success, and his contribution to the Melbourne Football Club should not be forgotten. We thank him for his efforts, commitment and service, and we wish him all the very best for the future.

This thread is here for posters who would like to reflect on Steven’s time at the club, share their memories of his contribution, and wish him well.

However, given the sensitive and explicitly personal nature of the circumstances surrounding this parting, there is to be no discussion in this thread about the reasons for his retirement or the issues behind it. There is nothing to be gained from speculating on matters that are private, and we ask everyone to respect that.

Please keep this thread focused on:

• Steven May’s time at Melbourne

• his contribution to the club

• messages of thanks and well wishes

Posts that stray into discussion or speculation about the personal circumstances behind his retirement will be removed.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Well I liked the boy!!!!

Well, if it's the best for him, no problem. He has served the club well since joining us and was a pivotal player in the backline for us. Well done, and may your next journey be a great one for you.

What a great player over his career. No doubt a key moment of getting a flag was getting him to the club.

I will miss him so much, he was an absolute beast and probably the best defender I’ve seen play in my time on earth.

He was fearless, tough and competitive, sometimes to his detriment. Just like all of us he had his flaws.

Thanks for 2021 and the memories. ❤️💙

Wish him the best in his next steps of life.

Thanks Steven May, you were the best full back in the league when we needed it most and got a flag playing beast-mode with a torn hamstring. Forever grateful for that

One of my all time favourites. Wore his heart on his sleeve and literally played the last part of the GF on one leg. I even named my puppy after him.

I will miss you Maysie. Enjoy your retirement with your lovely partner and baby girl.

Always a Demon ❤️💙

In his prime years he was so dependable. Could tame a gorilla or take a small like Charlie Cameron. Will be extremely hard to replace. Always felt a bit better with him back there for us in those years.

Absolute legend and one of my favourites.

Won’t forget his aggression and fierce competitive edge. Playing a grand final with half a hamstring - just guts and determination.

Thank you Steven May!!!!

Came to us when we needed a reliable backman & helped us achieve the ultimate.

He & lever were a formidable duo.

At least now we'll have a different set up kicking out & not just the predictable kick to max on the wing

Pity we couldn't get 1 more year out of Mayzie, as a teacher for the Young Boys, but the decision has been made.

Steven was the Best Defender in the AFL for a good stretch..

Premiership Demon..

He started slowly with us but the 2020-2022 iteration of Steven May was the best defender I've ever seen play for us. I am not ashamed to admit that I hoped he would be able to defy science and play at that level forever or at least for another decade.

During the doomed 2022-2023 straight sets era, he was by far our best performed player under pressure, with the 2022 QF performance on Franklin one of the all time great finals performances in a losing side.

I know he wasn't everyone's cup of tea out there on the field, and I'm sure it wasn't all that useful for morale, but I kind of liked the bakes he used to give out. At least there was someone out there with high standards and who suffered and cared the way us diehards do.

He looked completely washed last year and it would have been even harder going around again this season being another year older, but I'm still a bit flat about this.

All the best, Steve. One of the greats!

We had 5 players in the All-Australian team in our premiership year. Over summer we have seen the last of three of them.

There's certainly a lot of change about.

We got the best out of Maysie. All Australian and Premiership Player. Key forwards must have quaked at the prospect of facing him circa 20-23

I’m sad about this. It was the right decision for all but I loved him playing in the red and blue. I wish him happiness and a good life for him and his family. Thank you Mayzie ♥️💙

I loved his passion for the club. I genuinely think it would have been a very difficult decision to make but I appreciate and respect him for putting the club first. A premiership hero of the club and I wish him nothing but the best in the future.

Was the best key back in the game bar none from 2020-2022

Always a premiership player 🏆❤️💙🏆

With a shredded hammy no less...

Wish him all the best for the future ❤️💙

His trade from the Suns ultimately an overwhelming success

One of the best key backs I've seen

Maybe close to the best defender we've ever had pull on the red and blue jumper (at least the best I've seen in my lifetime)

Cheers for everything Mayzie.

Sad end and not the way he deserved to go out.

Rock solid in our premiership year. Out standing over the journey for us.

Best game I saw him play was the 23 final against Carlton. He had curnow in his pocket. Towering performance on a disappointing night when the rest of the team couldn’t rise to the occasion.

I wish him well in his retirement.

A shame. Could have been handy this season. 3 KPP gone over 4 days.

In 2020 had just the 10 goals kicked on him (yet overlooked for Andrew’s in the AA team, madness) in 2021 he was unstoppable. 2022/23 were also very good years.

His last paragraph “Right now the club, Kingy and the boys deserve some clean air and no distractions moving fwd, and I wish the lads nothing but success ahead. Very exciting times ahead for our fans.” was bloody well said.

Forever a premiership player, a massive part of our success. His ability to intercept mark rather than just punch the ball was one of his big strengths.

Steven May was a gun.

Wishing Maysie the best in his retirement and thanks for everything he's given the club.

I've no idea how hard it has been for him to come up again after some of the injuries he's had but he's a tough 'un.

Edited to add that I'm feeling a bit gutted with the news even though I expected it.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by thirty-one
updated with feelings.

Huge contributor to our successful period

One of the best key defenders of his era