Two weeks prior to the weekends match against Hawthorn, Steven May was the travelling emergency for the Gold Coast SUNS and an excited spectator as defending Premiers Geelong took on the side widely tipped to wave the flag this season, Hawthorn.
“We went down for the Melbourne Demons game early and gee I was star struck watching Geelong and Hawthorn play against each other and then two weeks later I am playing against Hawthorn so I was a bit wary and then Buddy Franklin pulled out so that eased the nerves a little bit.”
Steven was still sporting a serious case of butterflies as he prepared to battle the Hawks on Sunday however they soon disappeared as he turned in a display many believed would land him a cherished Rising Star award.
“Once the game started you sort of forget all about that, going into the game I was still nervous and then after the game I was just thinking wow I just played against Hawthorn at the MCG that was like a childhood dream to do that.”
It wasn’t a bad first up performance on the G either, May a stand out for the Gold Coast, finishing with twenty two disposals and three goals in a match where he shifted to an attacking role.
I was just happy to get back out there, I didn’t play that well the week before so I was just happy to get another game and Bluey put me forward and gave me a license to lead up and play footy how I used to do when I was a junior.
A full forward during his junior days, May admitted the challenge set by coach Guy McKenna and his staff to tackle a defensive position for the SUNS has been a tough, saying the free flowing forward style comes naturally to him.
“They have been teaching me how to play defence and obviously it’s a massive learning curve playing on some of the best forwards in the competition as well, you know it’s not an easy job, so going back forward is a good feeling.”
Unsure where he will be named for Saturdays match against Carlton, May played a traditional straight bat when asked where he would like to be pencilled in.
Any position if I can keep my spot with the Gold Coast SUNS long term, that would be awesome. Forward and back, I know the Coaches, they see me as a defender and because we have got Sammy Day and Tom Lynch so we have got our forward stocks so if I can hold a position at either end I will be over the moon with that.
Regardless of results, Steven believes the SUNS have made significant team improvements during the past few months adding that the entire, available list is looking forward to cracking in against the inform Carlton Blue’s at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
“The effort needs to be there and the intent, the result is irrelevant to us at the moment, if we get the win that will be amazing, but against Carlton who are contending for a spot in the finals, if we can compete, especially in front of our home fans, they have been good to us this year, we would be happy with that.”
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