Partner of former Dees star Steven May sues club, coach and footy boss

The partner of former Melbourne star Steven May is suing the Demons, head coach Steven King and the club’s general manager of football, Alan Richardson.

Documents lodged with the Federal Court show Sachi Dade filed a miscellaneous application against the Melbourne Football Club on May 22 and a case management hearing is scheduled for Friday morning.

The filing says the application is a privacy matter.

A Demons spokesman told this masthead they were aware of the action.

Details of the application have not yet been made public.

A lawyer from the firm representing Dade declined to comment as the matter is before the court.

May retired suddenly on the eve of the 2026 season.

The champion defender had been on personal leave from the club after a police visit to his home. There were no charges and the matter was closed.

In April, the Demons apologised for a pre-season meeting between senior club figures and players’ partners that allegedly disclosed private information about 2021 premiership star and former All-Australian May.

Then Demons chief executive Paul Guerra, King, and football department boss Richardson held a Teams meeting with about 15 partners of the players in February.

Guerra is not a party to the lawsuit.

The call was held as a way for Guerra and King, new in their roles, and Richardson to introduce themselves, while also addressing “a matter that impacts the football program”.

According to a source with knowledge of the 14-minute call, speaking anonymously because it was confidential, the online meeting was called for by two senior players to address concerns among partners about the police visit to May’s home. However, officials on the call allegedly departed from a script prepared for the meeting.

Details of the meeting were reported on SEN radio after a person on the call claimed sensitive information was shared about May and Dade’s relationship.

“The meeting sought to provide reassurance of the club’s commitment to supporting the families as well as the playing group,” the Demons said in a statement at the time.

“Whilst it was not our intent, we acknowledge the meeting has caused distress and for that the club is sorry.”

The court action comes as the Demons sit fourth on the ladder, having made a bright start to their new era under King, who replaced premiership coach Simon Goodwin.

However, the club has faced off-field scrutiny following the April sacking of Guerra after just seven months in the job.

There is no suggestion Guerra’s departure was linked to the May issue.

Demons president Steven Smith did not offer a specific reason for Guerra’s removal at a press conference the following day.

“Basically, there was no one particular thing,” Smith said at the time.

“It was just a general lack of confidence in his ability to lead the club, and a breakdown of relationship with the board.”

Stan executive director Dan Taylor has been appointed as the Demons’ new chief executive. Stan is owned by Nine, the owner of this masthead.

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