AFL star reveals his ‘mental breakdown’ was reason for retirement

The heartbreaking admission comes as he revealed some recent news has come as a “weight off my shoulders”.

The defender, 34, announced he was hanging up his boots back in March — just before the start of the 2026 season — during what was a chaotic period for the ex-Gold Coast man.

Melbourne had told May to search for a new club, while he was also facing charges over an alleged fight in 2024.

Last week, May and Richmond’s Dion Prestia saw those charges dropped, with the ex-Demons man admitting that was a “weight off his shoulders”.

Steven May retired from the AFL back in March on the eve of the 2026 season (Picture: Michael Klein)

Now he has opened up about why he passed up his contract for 2026, instead opting to walk away despite having already come through pre-season.

Speaking to SEN, he said: “I had a bit of a mental breakdown and found myself a bit lost and not sure what to do. It came to a point where I had to put the club before myself.

“I was able to retire before the deadline so then they could get another player in and Patty Cross is playing good footy and Melbourne are flying.

“All in all, it looks like it’s worked well for both parties.

“I knew that was the distraction to the footy club, even though they didn’t really say it, I could feel it.

“So it just comes to the point where you sort of got to make a decision that’s best for my family but also for the footy club and, and you know, my family’s happy and the club’s flying, so I’m pretty stoked with it.”

May played more than 250 games in the AFL (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

May is best-known for helping Melbourne win the 2021 grand final against the Western Bulldogs, playing on with a torn hamstring.

His legacy on the field is undeniable — and he is happy the off-field charges have now been dropped.

May, who played 251 games in the AFL, added: “Your name gets dragged through the media. I know I don’t have the greatest name already so that didn’t help.

“Especially when you were so innocent in something. You can’t really do much or say much because it’s a criminal charge.

“I feel for Dion. He’s still playing and has got different hurdles he has to get through. It was a huge weight off both of our shoulders.”

Speaking about his own experience, May said: “If you’ve made a few mistakes in the past you grow a bit of a record, I guess.

“If you were to do something and you were innocent then no one is really going to believe you. They’ll look at the history.

“I’ve had a few indiscretions off-field, you could say. That definitely didn’t help. When you’re so innocent in something no one really believes you.

“The media were coming after me for the last year and a bit, and then on Friday I didn’t hear anything when the charges got dropped.

“I know that’s the nature of the beast, that doesn’t sell papers – ‘charges withdrawn’. I get it, it’s what you signed up for.”

Source: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-star-reveals-his-mental-breakdown-was-reason-for-retirement/news-story/13fede9187683771754c6b04310c7f91