“One of his more embarrassing moments”: Cornes urges AFL to fine May for staging

Melbourne defender Steven May has been called out for staging in his side’s 70-67 win over North Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday night.

The incident occurred during an Eddie Ford tackle on May during the third term with the Demons leading by 15.

Ford tackled May immediately after he possessed it, spinning him around in a 360 before taking him to the ground on his back. Once the duo hit the turf, May threw his head into the ground to win a free kick for a ‘dangerous tackle’, with the umpire blowing the whistle.

Commentators immediately after the tackle suggested it never should have been a free kick as May initiated all of the contact that his head made with the playing surface.

After watching the tackle multiple times, Nine’s Sunday Footy Show panellists Damian Barrett and Kane Cornes think that May should be hit with a fine for staging from the MRO.

Cornes described the action as one of the more embarrassing things May has done on the field across his 229-game career.

Barrett: “I think there’s a conversation to be had around the staging element of it.

“I know things happen in game that are heat of battle and heat of the moment, but that didn’t appear to affect (the contact).”

Cornes: “It has to be a fine.”

Barrett: “I agree.”

Cornes: “It’s one of his more embarrassing moments on the field. His head went nowhere near the ground. 

“He threw his head into the ground (after the tackle), then grabbed his head to suck in a free kick.

“It was poor umpiring to let it (the tackle) go on so long, he should have blown his whistle earlier.

“I think he can be fined $1800 and absolutely Steven May deserves a fine for that.”

Barrett: “I agree. With the sensitivity around the head and when an umpire sees a player grab his head, it’s only natural (to pay a free kick). 

“Steven May has caused this problem here … it’s something that needs to be addressed.”

May will learn his MRO fate once the findings from Saturday’s Round 15 action are released on Sunday evening.