New Melbourne defender Steven May admits he got nervous as the trade deadline approached last week and he hadnt reached his preferred destination.
Doubts started creeping in, especially when Fremantle declared they had given up on their pursuit of former Demon Jesse Hogan.
That deal was crucial as Melbourne needed pick six from the Dockers to give to Gold Coast to secure May.
Steven May appeared for the first time as a Melbourne player at Federation Square on Tuesday.Credit:Eddie Jim
But in the end, Fremantle were bluffing, the Hogan deal was agreed to and May headed south on the final day of the trade period after eight years and 123 games with the Suns.
“It was kind of hard to make the call [to nominate Melbourne] because Melbourne didnt have the pick in their hand,” May said at Federation Square on Tuesday.
Advertisement
“But probably that Friday of trade week when I spoke to my manager and just said, can we just try and get to Melbourne? and then, coincidentally [Fremantle football manager] Peter Bell said theyre not trading for Jesse anymore so I got a little bit nervous, but I understand that thats how the game works.
“When youre hoping to get traded and nothings happened until deadline day you always have that element of doubt … it still felt pretty surreal for a couple of days and now that Ive got the shirt on its starting to sink in a little bit.”
May insisted he hadnt made his mind up to move to Victoria until the end of the season when he sat down and had a chat with his manager and “an honest discussion” with the Suns.
“They wanted a long-term commitment and I just couldnt give them that at the time and so I thought that was the right time to move forward,” May said.
The 26-year-old admitted becoming the third captain to leave the Gold Coast in as many seasons played on his mind a lot.
“Its obviously very humbling and an unreal privilege to captain an AFL club,” May said.
“But I had to think about my future and what I want to get out of my career and at the same time I cant leave the Suns with a captain in limbo going into another season which theyve had for the last couple of years.
“I weighed all that up and I just thought they need to go forward with a new captain, a new look, new list and Im going to go forward as well with a new team.”
May was a captain with the Suns.Credit:AAP
May admitted that seeing fellow former Gold Coast co-captain Tom Lynch endure intense media speculation during the final year of his contract at the Suns this year played a big part in him deciding to leave them with a year to run on his contract rather than go through a similar situation next season. Lynch is now at Richmond.
May was part of a mass exodus of talent from the Suns this postseason with Aaron Hall (North Melbourne), Kade Kolodjashnij (Melbourne) and Jack Scrimshaw (Hawthorn) joining him and Lynch as departures.
Add to that the exits of Gary Ablett (Geelong), Dion Prestia (Richmond), Jaeger OMeara (Hawthorn), Adam Saad (Essendon), Charlie Dixon (Port Adelaide) and Brandon Matera (Fremantle) in recent years and there are grave fears for Gold Coasts survival with some predicting them to be one of the worst teams in history next year.
But May is optimistic about his former clubs prospects and doesnt believe they need extra financial assistance to help counter the go-home factor, which has ravaged their playing list.
“They really do have the right people in place now and theyre going to go to the draft and I think theyre going to start again and I think theyre going to do it properly,” he said.
“I dont think its financial up there, I just think obviously the go-home factor [is there] because it is a unique spot the Gold Coast, but I think its more about the vibe and stability and now they do have some really key people in place, thats only going to build a great culture and then people will want to stay.”
After watching Melbournes charge towards a preliminary final this year, May admitted that after failing to play finals with Gold Coast, September action was “the most exciting carrot” when it came to deciding to pick the Demons as his new club.
“I wanted to see where I can see myself having the best football career,” he said.
“Theyve got an unreal list, a really good young list, so I want to be here for sustained success, I dont want to be here for just a couple of years. [I want to] play in front of big crowds and to join a big club, its a dream come true … it was just too good of an opportunity to not pursue.
“Theyre a very ruthless team, a high-scoring and exciting team, and its something that I want to be a part of.
“Its no secret Ive put up with a fair few inside 50s over my years and had a lot of goals kicked on me, so that opportunity to work with a really elite back six and help a top-four team, its just so exciting.”
And May is already looking forward to next years Anzac Day eve match when he faces Richmond and good mate Lynch.
“Hes looking forward to playing on me but I said Ill probably play on the best forward and thats Jack [Riewoldt],” he joked.
Ronny Lerner is a Sports reporter for The Age.
