{
  "id": 18442297,
  "title": "Man sues former AFL players Dion Prestia and Steven May",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/man-sues-former-afl-players-dion-prestia-and-steven-may",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T04:26:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-06/dion-prestia-steven-may-sued-victoria-court-alleged-brawl/107356188"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two former AFL players are facing a lawsuit over an alleged brawl on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. The plaintiff, whose identity remains undisclosed, is seeking damages for personal injuries sustained during the incident. Dion Prestia, a three-time premiership player with Richmond and Gold Coast, and Steven May, a member of Melbourne and Gold Coast who retired this year, are the defendants.\n\nBoth players were previously charged over the alleged altercation with another group in Sorrento during Boxing Day 2024, though the charges were dropped in May 2026. The plaintiff claims he was assaulted and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, leading to medical costs that are being sought as part of the personal injury claim.\n\nPrestia, who played 254 games for Richmond and Gold Coast, and May, who played 251 AFL games for Melbourne and Gold Coast and was part of the Demons' 2021 premiership-winning squad, have strenuously denied involvement. Their criminal cases are ongoing, which means the civil case is likely to commence only after their criminal matters are resolved. The plaintiff's employer has been contacted for comment.",
  "summary": "The former players were previously charged over an alleged streetside altercation in Sorrento on Boxing Day in 2024, but the charges were dropped a year-and-a-half later.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "TOURISM BOYCOTT BOMB: The Honeybadger’s revenge: Former minister Dion George’s nuclear war over SA’s captive lions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/tourism-boycott-bomb-the-honeybadgers-revenge-former-minister-dion",
        "published": "2026-11-06T03:44:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}