Essendon great Matthew Lloyd believes the legal drama involving Steven May’s partner and the Demons has the potential to impact coach Stephen King more than the players.
Ex-Demons star May’s partner Sachi Dade is suing the club, King and football boss Alan Richardson in the federal court.
Steven May and partner Sachi Dade. Getty
She has alleged three privacy breaches were committed across two days on February 4 and 5, her barrister Nicholas Petrie told the court via video link on Friday.
The third alleged breach involved a Teams meeting attended by 15 people, the court was told.
According to federal court documents seen by Nine’s Footy Classified, the vice president of the football club, Jeff Paws, has now been embroiled in the case.
It’s alleged Paws contacted May’s solicitor trying to pressure her out of the legal dispute.
Dade also took aim at the AFL for its handling of the issue. The matter is scheduled to be heard in court on September 11, which is the Friday of week two of the finals.
If Melbourne continue to perform the way they have this season, they could very well play on that day.
“I think that’s the biggest fallout,” Lloyd told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“He’s a first year coach, the pressures on coaches are bigger than ever, in terms of the scrutiny. We’ve already seen what’s going on with Brad Scott and Michael Voss already this year, so the last thing a young coach needs is this.
“He may also have to answer up to claims against them, it doesn’t affect the players so much because they get on with business, but it certainly may affect the young coach.”
Jimmy Bartel disagreed, saying his time with King as a player taught him the current Demons coach can handle pressure.
“He was my captain in my early days at Geelong,” Bartel said.
“I think he’s very good at compartmentalising things, and that’s the maturity of him, and that’s why they selected him as a coach.
“I think he’ll be excellent at putting this to one side. I don’t think he ever got caught up in off-field issues with coaches or board members or anybody else in the football department because it didn’t really actually impact the way you went about your business.”