Melbourne veteran Steven May hasn’t even reached the end of his playing days, but his current coach believes a move to the coaches’ box could be in his future.
The 33-year-old key defender will mark his 250th AFL appearance on Saturday afternoon against Hawthorn, returning from a three-match suspension. Interim Melbourne boss Troy Chaplin says the dual All-Australian’s influence extends far beyond match day, and that he is already showing the hallmarks of a senior coach.
“He could make a great coach some day, if that’s something that he wanted to do post-footy,” Chaplin said. “The time that he spends with the young guys … and coaching them through defensive positioning, different plays, sitting down watching their tape and really taking a keen interest in their development, has been fantastic the last few years.”
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A milestone underlined by leadership
Chaplin, who has worked closely with May in the club’s defensive set-up, praised not just his competitive streak but his tactical acumen and care for teammates.
“He is a competitive guy, he loves to win,” Chaplin said. “But what I have really seen in the last few years is his care for his teammates.”
May, a premiership winner in his seventh season with the Demons after eight at Gold Coast, will feature in Chaplin’s second match in charge following Simon Goodwin’s sacking.
The Demons are looking to bounce back after a narrow six-point loss to the Western Bulldogs last week.