Ex-Demons star Steven May breaks silence after shock retirement
> Former Melbourne star Steven May has described having a "mental breakdown" that led to his sudden retirement on the eve of the AFL season.
>The dual All-Australian called it quits in March, exactly two weeks before the Demons' campaign began under new coach Steven King.
>"The worst part about it was I had just done a pre-season, and I hate pre-seasons," May told SEN on Wednesday.
>"Some people love them, but I really hate them.
>"It was the end of January so I'd finally got through it and was ready for a new year, I was injured all last season and had a bad year on the field.
>"I was really ready to show people that I still have it, did the pre-season, ran a PB in January, up and about, let's go.
>"Then I had a bit of a mental breakdown and found myself a bit lost and not sure what to do.
>"It came to a point where I had to put the club before myself.
>"I was able to retire before the deadline so then they could get another player in ... all in all it looks like it's worked well for both parties."
> His comments come less than a week after all charges were dropped against May and Richmond premiership midfielder Dion Prestia.
>The magistrate also ordered the legal costs of May and Prestia be paid by the Chief Commissioner of Police.
>"Your name gets dragged through the media. I know I don't have the greatest name already, so that didn't help," May said.
>"Especially when you were so innocent in something.
>"You can't really do much or say much because it's a criminal charge."
>May, who famously played in Melbourne's 2021 grand final win with a torn hamstring, is playing local football this year with East Ringwood.
>"There comes a point where you've got to make a decision that's best for my family but also for the footy club," he said.
>"My family is happy and the club is flying, so I'm pretty stoked with it."
>May played 128 games with Melbourne and 123 for Gold Coast, where he was also co-captain for two seasons.