The Steven May hearing came down to deliberating a question which has divided opinion surrounding AFL tribunal hearings for decades.

May’s legal counsel Adrian Anderson’s statement in the final minutes of his defence summarised in eight words what was being deliberated when he said of May, “there was not much more he could do.”

Steven May will miss the next three games.Credit: AFL Photos

Well, that was for the tribunal panel of two former players – Darren Gaspar and Scott Stevens – and tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson, KC, to decide.

Despite some hysteria, the trio’s decision wasn’t going to change the way the game was played, or the way the AFL now expects the game to be played.

Carlton captain Patrick Cripps seemed confused earlier in the week when he said on a podcast, “I don’t understand what we want May to do there”.

He should understand. It’s clear.

The AFL wants players to show such a duty of care to their opponent that they........

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