Allegations of Brawls Involving AFL Stars: Police and Clubs Respond

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Both Melbourne and Richmond have provided statements acknowledging ongoing allegations involving their respective premiership players, Steven May and Dion Prestia, and a Melbourne street brawl.

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The duo are alleged to have been present at a brawl outside Sorrento’s Continental Hotel late last year that left one young male with a broken eye socket, detached retina and fractured nose, as well as another man injured.

One man has given a statement to detectives at Rosebud, and both spoke with The Age.

Demons defender May allegedly participated in the altercation, with triple premiership Tiger Prestia allegedly also amid the fight that took place over the recent Christmas holiday period.

One man hurt in the brawl alleged that May said, “Come on, let’s go”, then punched another man.

Fox Footy is not suggesting that the accusations are true — only that police have received an official complaint on the matter and it is now the subject of an investigation. Richmond claimed that Prestia only saw the brawl and was not involved.

“It is understood a physical altercation occurred between two groups of men on Point Nepean Road about 2am,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

“Two men were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“An official report has now been made to police and investigations into the circumstances of the incident remain ongoing.”

Both May and Prestia are reported to have been celebrating the bucks’ party of a mutual friend at Hotel Sorrento on the evening of Boxing Day, before making their way collectively to the Continental Hotel just before midnight. It is there where the altercation they are alleged to have been involved in took place.

Melbourne provided multiple outlets with the following one-sentence statement: “It is the role of police to check the veracity of any complaint, and we will assist where required.”

Prestia on Tuesday opted not to address questions over the allegations when approached at Richmond’s community camp in Albury, telling a 9 News reporter to “f*** off” before adding “there’s kids around”.

Dion Prestia of the Tigers. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

When approached by the Herald Sun, a Richmond spokesperson pointed to the club’s initial December statement, which read: “Prestia saw it happening but in no way was he involved. They weren’t involved in any physical altercation.”

Both Prestia and May began their AFL careers in 2011 at the Gold Coast Suns before returning to Victoria.

May was traded to the Demons after the 2018 season before earning back-to-back All-Australian selections and playing a key role in the Demons’ 2021 premiership.

Prestia joined Richmond ahead of the 2017 season then played in all three Tigers premiership sides while also claiming the 2019 best and fairest award.