Man sues former AFL players Dion Prestia and Steven May

In short:

Former AFL players Dion Prestia and Steven May are being sued in the Victorian Supreme Court over an alleged brawl on the Mornington Peninsula in 2024.

The plaintiff is making a personal injury claim, but the exact details of the claim are yet to be released.

Mr Prestia played for Richmond and Gold Coast and Mr May played for Melbourne and Gold Coast.

A man is suing former AFL players Dion Prestia and Steven May over an alleged brawl on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.

The two players were previously charged over an alleged streetside altercation with another group in the coastal town of Sorrento on Boxing Day in 2024, but the charges were dropped in May 2026.

Mr Prestia, a former Richmond premiership player, had been charged with recklessly causing serious injury and affray, while Mr May, an ex-Demons player who retired this year, was charged with affray.

The incident left two men in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Previously, both Mr Prestia and Mr May strenuously denied their involvement in the alleged incident.

A personal injury claim is now underway in the Supreme Court over the alleged assault. It's understood medical costs are among the damages being sought by a single plaintiff, who claims he was assaulted.

His name has been restricted by the court.

Court documents containing the exact details of the claim are yet to be released.

At a directions hearing in the Supreme Court on Friday, lawyers confirmed two more defendants were being added to the civil case alongside Mr May and Mr Prestia.

Their criminal matters remain before the court which means civil action is unlikely to commence before their cases are finalised.

Mr Prestia played 254 games for Richmond and Gold Coast and is a three-time premiership player.

It was recently announced he would join Hawthorn's coaching line-up for the 2027 season as an AFL development coach.

Mr May played 251 AFL games for Melbourne and Gold Coast and was a member of the Demons' 2021 premiership-winning squad.

He retired suddenly on the eve of the 2026 season.

Mr Prestia's employer and Mr May have been contacted for comment.