After a tumultuous season plagued with injury, former Suns defender Steven May is preparing himself for one of his toughest pre-seasons to date.
As reported by afl.com.au, adding a Pilates instructor and yoga work into his schedule has placed May in a good frame of mind heading into 2020 with plans to lead the Demons' defence.
May has joined his younger teammates at training the past two weeks, a period normally scheduled for first-to-four year players, as he begins to pick up the pieces after a season to forget.
The 27-year-old battled groin and hamstring injuries which restricted him to just eight games in his first season at Melbourne. With the club setting him up with an individual program, May was seen at Gosch's Paddock earlier than expected.
"I came in and saw the rehab coach and said my break looks like this, when do you want me in and who can I see?" May told AFL Nation in August.
"I've got a new Pilates coach, I've got some yoga stuff and cross-training stuff."
After arriving at his first pre-season with Melbourne somewhat unfit, May succumbed to a hamstring injury as early as January this year.
Then the snowball effect came, May was suspended for an off-the-ball hit in the JLT Community Series before tearing his groin during his season debut with the Demons.
As the hamstring concerns became major setbacks, May's season was again cut short late in the season.
"As I was trying to get fit, my body just couldn't keep up with the demands," May said.
"I was probably blaming other people, but Goody [Simon Goodwin] sat me down and hit me between the eyes and [said] 'This is your fault, you've got get yourself out of it'.
"The most frustrating (thing), I got myself really fit and in the best position I've been in and then I do a hammy, then I do another one and I was like 'Why is this happening to me?'
"I think when you're playing catch up all year something has to give."
May knows he isn't the type of player to blitz the club's time trial, but he has been given a fresh running program organised by none other than new fitness guru Darren Burgess, and it seemingly suits his style of play down back.
"My running is a lot different – very role-specific running," the 27-year-old told the club's website last month.
"A lot of repeat efforts, like two or three quick efforts then you walk for a bit rather than just running 1km – that's just not what we do in a game.
"There's still an aspect of that certain base line endurance that you need to play the game, but I think to be the best defender, being able to maximise those high intensity efforts will allow me to stop a forward getting the ball."
May played 123 matches across eight season with Gold Coast, before signing a five-year deal with the Demons prior to the 2019 season.
