Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL Briefing:
- Melbourne have settled their lawsuit with the partner of retired premiership player Steven May
- Geelong coach Chris Scott says the Cats’ empathy for Tyson Stengle can only stretch so far
- Inspirational Crow Chelsea Randall retires after a series of head knocks
- ICYMI, read Peter Ryan’s take on Round 16 in Four Points.
Melbourne have reached a settlement with Steven May’s partner Sachi Dade, who had launched legal action against the Demons for allegedly sharing sensitive information about their relationship.
Coach Steven King, who was on the February Microsoft Teams meeting with players’ partners that was central to Dade’s lawsuit, confirmed the settlement on Monday night.
“It’s something we as a club got wrong. We had good intent but if we had our time again I think we would acknowledge that was a mistake and we probably shouldn’t have done that,” King said on Seven’s The Agenda Setters.
Dade was suing Melbourne, King and football boss Alan Richardson in the Federal Court, claiming they committed a serious invasion of her privacy in the aftermath of a police welfare check at the home she shared with the retired premiership defender in January.
She had alleged the club’s actions caused “emotional distress, embarrassment, psychiatric harm and anguish” and left her subjected to “rumours, personal ridicule and humiliation by members of the public”.
Asked whether he would speak to Dade personally, King said: “I’ll wait and see what the club want us to do from that point of view but it’s been settled now so we’ll just move forward.”
The Agenda Setters reported that the financial settlement included an apology.
The Demons were contacted for comment.
‘We’re not a charity’: Scott explains Cats’ stance on Stengle
Geelong coach Chris Scott has revealed “there is a limit” to the support Geelong can offer absent forward Tyson Stengle as he struggles to restart his AFL career.
Stengle kicked four goals in his only VFL match this season on June 13 but did not make the flight to Queensland to play against Southport the following week.
The Cats have been patient as the 27-year-old battled to commit to the program this season but are also conscious of the obligations he has under his current contract, which stretches until the end of 2029.
He has not played a senior match since last year’s grand final and took leave from the program over the pre-season.
Scott, who is a strong supporter of Stengle, was more expansive speaking to reporters on Monday about the club’s position in relation to the premiership forward who has kicked 160 goals in 93 matches for the Cats.
“I’ve got so much admiration for the players that can just persevere through the ups and downs as well as they do,” Scott said.
“It is a bit of a surprise to me you don’t have more players just saying: ‘Look, I’m finding this too tough at the moment’.
“My take on where Tyson is at, that’s how he’s feeling about his sort of football life at the moment; it’s just all a little bit hard for him.
“There is a limit to our support with that because we’re like: ‘Hey man, we empathise with you; this is a tough game’. But there are limits to where our empathy takes us because we’re not a charity, as much as we’d like to be.”
Scott said any decision on when Stengle may be available to play next was not in his hands as the forward had not come close to senior selection in 2026.
He also emphasised that the club would continue to support Stengle as best it could, but said the best interests of the club and its ability to compete would be the major concern in its decision-making.
“You shouldn’t mistake the real priority that we place on player welfare for forgetting that we’re also in a high- performance industry where we have high expectations of our players and our people so that we can perform as well as possible,” Scott said.
Stengle made a remarkable return to football in 2022 when he was named All-Australian after kicking 53 goals in the Cats’ premiership season. He was a consistent performer over the next three seasons but has struggled with the game’s demands in 2026.
Scott also indicated that Tom Stewart and Bailey Smith were likely to return for Thursday night’s match against the Brisbane Lions.
Meanwhile, the Swans will be without key forward Joel Amartey for the next 10 weeks after he suffered a partial tear of the Achilles tendon against Brisbane, putting him in doubt for the rest of the season.
Triple premiership captain forced to retire with concussion issues
Ongoing concussion issues have forced one of the AFLW’s most decorated players, Adelaide’s Chelsea Randall, to retire.
Randall, a five-time All Australian and triple premiership captain, continues to experience problems stemming from multiple concussions.
The 35-year-old, who captained the Crows for eight seasons, says she’s saddened to retire but made the decision with her health and family front of mind.
“I will miss the immense joy that playing gave me,” Randall said in a statement on Monday.
“I’ll miss competing at the highest level, I’ll miss sharing the game with my teammates and playing in front of our members and supporters.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Adelaide Football Club … I am also so grateful to the AFLW competition as a whole.
“To have been part of its growth from the very beginning has been an honour and one of the great privileges of my life.”
West Australian-born Randall was an inaugural member of the Crows in the AFLW’s first season in 2017 and fast became renowned for her tenacious playing style.
Randall won the AFLW’s most courageous player a record six times and was also the AFL Coaches Association’s champion player of the year in 2017.
Randall’s stellar playing status led to her to being appointed a development coach for Adelaide’s AFL men’s side in 2022.
The Crows’ AFLW general manager Bree Brock hailed Randall’s contribution to the club.
“Chelsea’s trailblazing role in growing the game across our state, as well as her lasting influence, should never be underestimated,” Brock said.
“Her decorated AFLW career stands as a testament to the courage, resilience and elite ability with which she played every moment.”
AAP
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