Dual All-Australian Steven May's partner, Sadie Dade, has taken legal action against the Melbourne Football Club and its senior coach, Steven King, alleging serious invasions of privacy. The lawsuit, filed in the Federal Court, comes months after May's shock retirement just weeks before the 2026 AFL season.
Details of the Lawsuit
Ms Dade, a 32-year-old nurse, claims the club breached her privacy during a 14-minute Microsoft Teams meeting held two weeks before May's departure. The meeting involved the partners of 15 other Demons players and was intended to address the “challenging” circumstances faced by the AFL star. According to court documents, club representatives shared “private, confidential and sensitive” information about the couple, much of which was “false or misleading.”
“It was unclear why the private and sensitive information was being shared with the attendees by representatives of the MFC,” the documents state. Ms Dade also alleges that a club statement confirming a police visit to their home in February constituted another breach of privacy. The police visit, which did not result in any charges or arrests, had previously raised concerns among Demons fans.
Impact on Ms Dade
The alleged breaches have caused Ms Dade “emotional distress, embarrassment, psychiatric harm and anguish,” according to the court filings. She claims she has been subjected to ridicule from the general public as a result. Ms Dade had reported the matter to the AFL’s Integrity Unit, but her concerns were “not resolved.”
Her lawyers contacted the club and coach King with an offer to resolve the breach before filing the suit, but no agreement was reached. She is now seeking an apology and damages for the “serious invasion” of her privacy.
May's Response and Retirement
Steven May has not publicly commented on his partner's lawsuit, but he previously revealed that a “mental breakdown” prompted his retirement. “I had a bit of a mental breakdown and found myself a bit lost and not sure what to do,” he said. “It came to a point where I had to put myself before the club.”
The matter is set to return to Federal Court on Friday for a hearing.
