AFL stars released without charge over Boxing Day brawl that left two men in hospital
AFL stars Steven May and Dion Prestia have been interviewed and released pending further inquiries over a Boxing Day brawl on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula that left two men in hospital.
Victoria Police advised this morning that the players, along with a 26-year-old Blairgowrie man, were expected to be charged on summons with affray and recklessly cause injury for their alleged roles in an altercation near Sorrento's Continental Hotel in December.
But police have since advised that the three men have been interviewed by detectives and "released pending further inquiries".
No charged have been laid against either of the men.
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Steven May of the Demons. Getty
The alleged fight left 22-year-old Will Salter with a severely damaged eye socket. Nine
Rye man Will Salter suffered a fractured nose, broken eye socket and detached retina during a fight that left him legally blind in one eye.
In a statement to police, the 22-year-old accused Demons defender May of punching his friend in the face.
Police allege Tigers midfielder Prestia was also involved.
Salter was out with friends at the popular Continental Hotel in Sorrento on Boxing Day, where he claims a group of men including May and Prestia were celebrating a buck's night.
Salter claims the group followed him down Point Nepean Road, where an altercation ensued in the early hours of December 27.
"There were words between my group and the other group for a bit ... then I saw Steven May yelling and screaming, 'come on, let's go', and then I saw him punch (my friend) to the face and then it was on," Salter alleged to 9News.
"Whilst I was on the ground, I was kicked multiple times to the back of the head, and all over, but I couldn't see who was doing this as I was trying to protect my face."
Both players deny any wrongdoing.
Richmond's Dion Prestia swore at the media as he left the club's community camp in Albury on the NSW-Victoria border in February when asked about his involvement. Nine
Prestia was filmed in a heated exchange with a 9News reporter. Nine
Salter was taken to hospital at the time and is now unable to work as an apprentice electrician.
Another man was also hospitalised after suffering seizures and low blood pressure.
9News is not suggesting the allegations against the Richmond and Melbourne players are true, or that they were the people who caused the injury.
When Prestia was asked about his alleged involvement in the brawl by a 9News reporter in February, he lashed out, swearing and abusing a young journalist who approached him at a club clinic.
Any witnesses, anyone with vision or information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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