Bad boy Demon set for comeback against Lions
KEY Melbourne defender Steven May has trained “outstandingly well” since his club-imposed suspension for punching teammate Jake Melksham and will make an immediate return as the reigning premiers look to end a three-match losing streak on Thursday night.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin was adamant that May, who was given the one-match ban after a fight at a team dinner when he was drinking despite being under concussion protocols, was keen on “building the trust back” with his teammates.
Goodwin said May would come straight back into a team that has lacked defensive “cohesion” in his absence as Melbourne tackles fellow premiership contenders the Brisbane Lions without captain and star ruckman Max Gawn.
“He’s been outstanding in training as well,” Goodwin said of May on Monday.
“He’s really keen on building trust back within the playing group and putting his best performances out there on-field and leading like he does on-field.
“It’s going to be great to get that group back together. We haven’t had much cohesion in the back half of the ground over the last month.
“To get that back six or seven together consistently, it’s going to be something that’s really important to us and Steven is a big part of that. He’s an outstanding player and he’ll come back in.”
Goodwin said he was also focused on finding a willing helper for gun young big man Luke Jones, who will take the No. 1 ruck role in Gawn’s absence, with the skipper set to be sidelined for more than a month with a syndesmosis injury.
Ben Brown looms as a helper, with Majak Daw out with a bicep injury.
“It’s an enormous opportunity for Luke to really step up. To take that mantle as the No.1 ruckman will be really important,” Goodwin said.