Melbourne could throw a major spanner due to the legal drama involving Steven May's partner, Sachi Dade, and the potential impact on coach Steven King, as well as the wider club.
Dade is suing King, football boss Alan Richardson and the Demons in federal court, over alleged breaches in privacy during a meeting with the club in February.
The matter is scheduled in court on September 11 (Friday), coinciding with the second week of the AFL finals. Melbourne will be pushing for a surprise inclusion in September after replacing Simon Goodwin with King ahead of 2026.
The Demons are 9-6 as they enter the mid-season bye, with a top-four spot well and truly on the cards.
"I think that's the biggest fallout," Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said on Channel Nine's Footy Classified.
Sam McClure with the latest on the partner of Steven May's allegations against Melbourne.#9FootyClassified | Watch on 9 & 9Now 🖥️ pic.twitter.com/zVMhsLlNIM
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) June 22, 2026
"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."
Fellow Footy Classified panellist Jimmy Bartel, who knows King well from their Geelong days, said despite the ongoing allegations and court case, the Demons coach has the capacity to handle the situation.
"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," Bartel said.
"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."
