MAY TAKES HIS TIME
NO RUSH FOR SUNS DEAL:
SUNS co-captain Steven May admits consistent Gold Coast performances and the AFL’s looming salary cap increase are key factors as he weighs up his future at the club.
May has never rushed into new deals in previous years and with more factors to consider than ever, the Gold Coast key defender is taking his time ahead of his contract ending at the conclusion of this season.
The 25-year-old said the finalisation of the AFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), his ascension into the role as skipper with Tom Lynch and his own performances were all reasons why he hadn’t signed a Suns deal yet.
“As a young captain it is a new role and I just want to focus on it,’ May said.
“I just feel like I have other priorities in front of me which is my performances. I didn’t have a great start to the season so I have just been trying to be the best player and leader I can this year.”
May said he had enjoyed his time as captain and his management would likely begin talks with the Suns within the next month.
The Northern Territory product said he had no desire to shift to Melbourne, where he completed part of his schooling, as he mulls over whether to extend his sevenyear tenure at the Gold Coast.
“Anyone coming out of contract has a lot to weigh up because you commit your future to the footy club,” May said.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve been hesitant (to sign). My previous contracts have always been a well thought about process.”
One thing the competitive tall defender wants to see, though, is a more consistent effort from a side that has produced some of the best and worst football of this season.
“It’s just the consistency,” May said.
“Not winning every game but being competitive and showing the effort and to earn some respect.
“I’m sure that’s what everyone here at the Suns wants to be part of from the coaches down to the rookies coming into the team.
“My job as captain though is to make sure the boys are performing. Clearly we haven’t been doing that well this year so that’s been my focus week in and week out.”
May said his side has been left to stew on a bitterly disappointing performance in China against Port Adelaide and have been given a pre-season-like training load by the coaching group this week in the lead up to Saturday’s Round 10 game against Melbourne in May’s home state.
The game is part of the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls indigenous Round and May will don the no. 67 on his guernsey to acknowledge the 1967 referendum that removed two references discriminating against Aboriginal people from the Australian Constitution.
May is currently the AFL’s only indigenous captain and just the sixth in the game’s history.