2 months ago
16
By Emily Woods
January 22, 2026 — 2.52pm
Two AFL premiership players say they were not present during a brawl at a coastal town as they fight to have criminal charges withdrawn.
Richmond’s Dion Prestia, 33, and Melbourne’s Steven May, 34, appeared at Dromana Magistrates Court on Thursday via videolink for a brief hearing.
Footballers Steven May (left) and Dion Prestia are contesting charges.Credit: Getty Images
They were charged with criminal offences in October, about 10 months after a brawl on Point Nepean Road in Sorrento on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Police allege two groups were involved in an altercation about 2am on December 27, 2024, with two men taken to hospital with injuries.
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Prestia has been charged on summons with recklessly causing serious injury, intentionally causing injury and affray.
May has been charged on summons with affray.
However, both players deny they were present during the brawl and proclaim their innocence.
Their lawyer Tony Hargreaves told the court on Thursday he had provided detailed written submissions to police setting out why the charges ought to be withdrawn.
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This included a witness statement, which claims neither Prestia nor May were present during the fight, he said.
Hargreaves said Victoria Police were considering their submission and asked for the case to be adjourned to February for a contest mention.
Prosecutor Alex Turner said the matter had just been referred to his unit and agreed to the adjournment.
Prestia and May, who remain charged on summons, will face Frankston Magistrates Court on February 20.
The pair, who started their AFL careers together at Gold Coast, previously released statements through their clubs proclaiming their innocence.
“I was not involved in the fight. I was not even physically present when it apparently took place,” Prestia said, in a statement issued by Richmond in October.
Premiership Tiger Dion Prestia wants the charges withdrawn.Credit: via Getty Images
“I deny that I am guilty of these offences and will strenuously defend these charges.”
Melbourne said May had advised them he was not involved, and he would “strongly defend” the charge in court.
Both AFL clubs are supportive of the players.
Prestia is a three-time premiership player with Richmond, and won the club’s best-and-fairest award in 2019.
May played for Melbourne in the 2021 premiership and is a dual All-Australian player.
AAP
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