Richmond veteran Dion Prestia and Melbourne defender Steven May have been caught up in a police investigation that has since reportedly seen the pair released, pending further inquiries.
The pair were of interest to police for their alleged involvement in an off-season brawl in Sorrento on December 27.
The former teammates were reportedly caught in the fracas at the Continental Hotel that left two men hospitalised around 2:00am at the popular Mornington Peninsula venue.
A statement viaย News Corp in January revealed a 22-year-old man had suffered a broken eye socket, fractured nose and detached retina. He accused May and Prestia of their involvement, with the former allegedly "punching his mate" in the face.
Speaking on Monday, a Victorian Police spokeswoman said three men had been interviewed over the alleged fight and would likely be charged on summons.
"Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives have interviewed three men as part of their investigation into the affray in Sorrento on 27 December," the statement read, revealed byย Channel 9's Tom Morris.
"The interviews follow a report to police about a physical altercation between two groups of men on Point Nepean Road about 2am.
"Two men were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries at the time.
"A 32-year-old man from Hawthorn, a 33-year-old man from Mount Eliza and a 26-year-old Blairegowrie man have all been interviewed in relation to the incident.
"The trio are expected to be charged on summons."
The police have since retracted their statement, with May and Prestia now expected to have been released, while the investigation remains ongoing.
A statement from Victoria Police ๐
The 33-year from Mt Eliza is Steve May and the 32-year from Hawthorn is Dion Prestia. They are set to be charged with affray and recklessly causing injury.
May and Prestia have both strongly denied any wrongdoing. @FootyonNine @9NewsMelbโฆ pic.twitter.com/WW6TlY6Fgi
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) May 5, 2025
Understand Victoria Police will soon retract its statement from this morning.
Steve May and Dion Prestia are NOT set to be charged. Instead, it will be confirmed theyโve been released pending further enquiries.
(Doesnโt mean they wonโt be charged eventually, but it isnโtโฆ
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) May 5, 2025
Both Prestia and May have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the wake of the alleged incident.
The pair spent six years together at the Gold Coast Suns as inaugural players of the Queensland club.