Star Melbourne defender Steven May has conceded he “probably could have chosen better words” after throwing shade at Collingwood at last month’s best and fairest, but says he was surprised by the backlash over his comments.
A candid May said at the event the Demons “should have smoked” the Magpies in the clubs’ qualifying final and that Melbourne was “so much better” than the eventual premiers.
May’s comments sparked criticism from the football world amid questions of Melbourne’s culture as part of a tumultuous off-season for the club after consecutive straight-sets finals exits.
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Speaking at Oaks Day at Flemington Racecourse on Thursday, May admitted his remarks might’ve gone too far despite claiming he was simply speaking honestly at an intimate club event.
“You want to have that belief and I’m a bit like that,” he told Channel 7.
“I wasn’t having an interview at the time with all you guys, I was speaking to our Melbourne members and my teammates.
“Probably could have chosen some better words, but the backlash was pretty crazy considering those guys all got a medal around their neck and are loving life and I’m in Japan after going out in straight sets.”
Also speaking at Oaks Day, Melbourne skipper Max Gawn admitted the club needed to take a look in the mirror and “have some conversations” after an eventful few months.
It’s included Joel Smith receiving a provisional suspension for testing positive to cocaine in season and concerns around Clayton Oliver’s behaviour after the star midfielder was admitted to hospital for a head injury caused by a seizure.
Gawn was hopeful the Demons could bounce back and even grow from the trying circumstances.
“I feel like with adversity hopefully we can get through stuff like this,” Gawn told Channel 7.
“Obviously I agree we got to have some conversations. Our culture in a way has been relatively successful in the last three or four years, but there is bits that’s happened.
“We need to have a conversation, we need to talk about it and make sure we can all get on the straight and narrow, and hopefully with this adversity comes a fair bit of greatness.”
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