{"id":434964,"date":"2026-01-24T18:32:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T18:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/434964\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T18:32:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T18:32:00","slug":"afl-stars-claim-startling-new-evidence-clears-them-after-being-accused-over-2am-pub-brawl-that-left-two-men-in-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/434964\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL stars claim startling new evidence clears them after being accused over 2am pub brawl that left two men in hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"

By EMILY WOODS FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS <\/p>\n

Published: 19:55 EST, 21 January 2026 | Updated: 20:04 EST, 21 January 2026 <\/p>\n

Two AFL<\/a> premiership players say they were not present during a brawl at a coastal town as they fight to have criminal charges withdrawn.<\/p>\n

Richmond’s Dion Prestia, 33, and Melbourne’s Steven May, 34, appeared at Dromana Magistrates Court on Thursday via videolink for a brief hearing.<\/p>\n

They were charged with criminal offences in October, about 10 months after a brawl on Point Nepean Road in Sorrento on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.<\/p>\n

Police allege two groups were involved in an altercation about 2am on December 27, 2024, with two men taken to hospital with injuries.<\/p>\n

Prestia has been charged on summons with recklessly causing serious injury, intentionally causing injury and affray.<\/p>\n

May has been charged on summons with affray.<\/p>\n

\"Melbourne <\/p>\n

Melbourne Demons star Steven May (pictured with partner Sachi) was charged with affray over his alleged involvement in the fight just after Boxing Day in 2024<\/p>\n

\"Richmond's <\/p>\n

Richmond’s Dion Prestia (pictured with\u00a0girlfriend Brooke Bailey) wants his charges of\u00a0recklessly causing serious injury, intentionally causing injury and affray withdrawn<\/p>\n

\"Prestia <\/p>\n

Prestia (pictured right) and May both deny they were present at the time of the brawl, the court heard<\/p>\n

However, both players deny they were present during the brawl and proclaim their innocence.<\/p>\n

Their lawyer Tony Hargreaves told the court on Thursday he had provided detailed written submissions to police setting out why the charges ought to be withdrawn.<\/p>\n

This included a witness statement, which claims neither Prestia nor May were present during the fight, he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Hargreaves said Victoria Police were considering their submission and asked for the case to be adjourned to February for a contest mention.<\/p>\n

Prosecutor Alex Turner said the matter had just been referred to his unit and agreed to the adjournment.<\/p>\n

Prestia and May, who remain charged on summons, will face Frankston Magistrates Court on February 20.<\/p>\n

The pair, who started their AFL careers together at the Gold Coast Suns, previously released statements through their clubs proclaiming their innocence.<\/p>\n

‘I was not involved in the fight. I was not even physically present when it apparently took place,’ Prestia said, in a statement issued by Richmond in October.<\/p>\n

‘I deny that I am guilty of these offences and will strenuously defend these charges.’<\/p>\n

Melbourne said May had advised them he was not involved and would ‘strongly defend’ the charge in court.<\/p>\n

Both AFL clubs are supportive of the players.<\/p>\n

Prestia is a three-time premiership player with Richmond, and won the club’s best-and-fairest award in 2019.<\/p>\n

May played for Melbourne in the 2021 premiership and is a two-time All-Australian player.<\/p>\n

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