Nathan Buckley has called on the AFL to suspend players like Steven May who “stage” to win free kicks, stating that May’s incident was particularly egregious given the context of former teammate Angus Brayshaw’s career-ending concussion issues. May was fined $1250 on Sunday after feigning a head injury to win a free kick following a sling tackle by North Melbourne’s Eddie Ford. Replays showed May’s head was not contacted, leading to his fine for staging by AFL match review officer Michael Christian.
Discussing the incident on SEN radio, Collingwood great Buckley argued that actions like May’s should warrant at least a one-week suspension. He emphasized the severity of the incident, noting the rule’s intent to protect players and their heads, not to be manipulated. Buckley also highlighted the irony and poor judgment on May’s part, given Brayshaw’s recent retirement due to concussions and the fact that the team awards a courage-based honor in Brayshaw’s name.
“Staging has been a part of the game,” Buckley said. “I remember doing it myself and feeling terrible. I can only imagine how Steven May feels, but that doesn’t excuse his actions. This rule is meant to protect players, not to be exploited. Considering a teammate like Brayshaw has left the game due to head injuries, May’s actions were the opposite of the courage and demeanor we respect. He wouldn’t feel great about it, but it should be punished more severely than a fine. Such blatant staging should result in a one-week suspension.”