Witnesses say Dion Prestia and Steven May ‘not involved’ in Boxing Day brawl, court told

Charges against two AFL premiership players over an alleged Boxing Day brawl may be withdrawn at a hearing in two months as the pair continue to deny they were involved.

Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia and former Melbourne defender Steven May, who announced his retirement from the AFL earlier this month, were charged late last year after an alleged incident in the coastal town of Sorrento in December 2024.

Police alleged the pair were involved in a brawl between two groups of men about 2am that led to two men being taken to hospital.

Mr Prestia was charged with recklessly causing serious injury and Mr May was charged with affray. Both have repeatedly said they were not involved in the incident.

The two footballers appeared in the Frankston Magistrates Court on Monday morning via video link as prosecutors request the matter be adjourned as police were continuing to investigate the alleged incident.

Mr Prestia sported a black long-sleeve Richmond-branded t-shirt, while Mr May wore a crisp white button-up, each speaking only to confirm they could see and hear the court.Prosecutor Alex Turner said investigators were continuing to interview people in relation to the alleged brawl, with one person interviewed “as recently as last Monday”.

He told the court the police officer leading the probe was seeking to interview two more people, hopefully before the case returns in May.

“Largely this case is put on a word on word basis,” Mr Turner said.

“A certain number of people say the accused were involved, a number say the accused weren’t involved.

“If the two further are able to be spoken to ... that will largely tie the prosecution’s hands.”

He suggested prosecutors would be in a position to decide whether the charged would be withdrawn, or proceed, in the coming months.

Defence lawyer Tony Hargreaves, who is representing both Mr Prestia and Mr May, told the court the police investigations were continuing because of information passed along by the defence.

“The position of Mr May and Mr Prestia has been at all times they were not involved in this case,” he said.

“It’s in my clients’ best interest they complete these investigations.”

Magistrate Tony Burns agreed, adjourning the case to return to court on May 8.

Mr Prestia is a three-time premiership player with Richmond and started his AFL career at the same time as Mr May at the Gold Coast Suns in 2011.

Mr May played eight seasons with the Suns, serving as co-captain for two, before moving to Melbourne for the 2019 season.

He retired from the league earlier this month but has since signed on to play with East Ringwood in the Eastern Football Netball League for 2026.

“It’s with a heavy heart that I’ve decided to step away and retire from the AFL,” he wrote in an Instagram post.

“It’s an incredibly tough decision to make on the eve of the season but I know it’s the right one for myself, my family and the team.”