Steven May’s outstanding performance on Richmond dual Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt has been recognised with a berth in the round 20 AFL Media Team of the Week.
 
The Gold Coast key defender has been in a rich vein of form since the turn of the bye and despite the SUNS being comprehensively dispatched by 83 points on Sunday afternoon, May was impressive on the Tigers spearhead.
 
Given Richmond’s dominance, May’s ability to nullify Riewoldt and hold him to just two goals despite a +22 inside 50 differential was duly recognised. And had he not been there, it’s frightening to think how extensive the damage might have been.
 
Neither of Riewoldt’s two goals were a direct fault of May’s with the first the result of poor defending further afield and the second a soccer off the ground late in the final term.
 
May won a number of aerial contests against Riewoldt as well as halving a handful of contests that could have been punished.
 
The Northern Territorian finished with 18 possessions of his own, as well as eight rebound 50s and six spoils.
 
Rodney Eade’s side didn’t return to Queensland with four premiership points, but May did make the trek home with another scalp.
 
The 23-year-old has overcome a frustrating start to the season due to injury, form and a controversial three-game suspension, to enter the top echelon of key defenders in the game.
 
Had he not missed so much football, May would sit alongside Alex Rance, Michael Hurley, Jeremy McGovern and Tom McDonald in All Australian contention given the calibre of scalps he has claimed this year – Jarryd Roughead, Drew Petrie, Jeremy Cameron, Taylor Walker, Josh Kennedy and Jack Riewoldt.
 
Regardless of individual accolades or personal standings in the game, May, along with Tom Lynch, have demonstrated their immense value in the second half of this season. They are the future of the Gold Coast SUNS in arguably the two most important roles on the ground.