Ex-Gold Coast Suns teammates Steven May and Dion Prestia escaped charges for their alleged involvement in a brawl outside a Mornington Peninsula pub in late 2024.
Both men vehemently denied any involvement, and police eventually dropped affray charges levelled against both men, and the charge of recklessly causing serious injury, brought against Prestia.
The altercation saw two men hospitalised with one reportedly suffering a detached retina and a fractured eye socket.
Now, as reported by the Herald Sun, the saga has been continued via a civil lawsuit brought against the pair, and two other men, by an unnamed plaintiff.
“I was not even physically present when it (the fight) apparently took place,” Prestia's statement at the time of the incident read.
“I deny that I am guilty of these offences and will strenuously defend these charges.”
After charges were dropped in May 2026, the prosecution were ordered to pay legal costs for the duo.
The two men met as inaugural Gold Coast Suns, before moving to Victorian powerhouses in pursuit of success.
Prestia won three premierships in four years at Richmond, and won the Jack Dyer Medal as the club's best and fairest player in the Tigers' 2019 premiership season.
May was twice named an All-Australian defender, and courageously played his part in the Demons' drought-breaking 2021 premiership, with a severe hamstring injury.
Prestia was recently unveiled as a development coach at Hawthorn, after announcing his retirement at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
