As one of the competition’s premium key defenders, Steven May has the pleasure of competing against the league’s elite tall forwards.
The Melbourne backman has been a tough nut to crack run in 2021, forming the AFL’s most miserly defence with help from Jake Lever and co.
But it’s not always a breeze for May who admits he has had some trouble with some quality attackers.
He outlined the toughest of those forwards he’s faced lately.
“The best forward? It’s a hard one,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“Obviously you’ve got guys like Buddy Franklin who I’ve always idolised. He’s given me sleepless nights most of my career.
“I would say the best young, hard player to play on is probably Aaron Naughton.
“Just purely because the umpires are really hot on holding, but if you let him run and jump, good luck. He can fly over a pack.”
May insists veterans of the game including Tom Hawkins and Josh Kennedy are always a challenge and even gave insight into how he prepares for those tests.
“Then you’ve got guys like Tom Hawkins, who is just a beast of a guy. You’ve got to play him a certain way,” he added.
“The ones that are really difficult, like Josh Kennedy for example, in my notes before the game (on Monday) I had: ‘Zero marks inside 50. Why? Because he doesn’t miss’. He gets a free kick and a mark and kicks both of them, even from the boundary. What can you do?”
The former Gold Coast co-captain also delivered a warning for the developing key defenders in the competition after taking on Carlton’s Coleman Medal-leading Harry McKay.
“Then there’s big Harry. I’ve played on him a couple of times and I think he’s going to add a few more strings to his bow,” he said of the Blue.
“Good luck to the young key defenders for the next 10 years. They’re going to have their hands full with him.”
May and the Demons are in action against Adelaide this Sunday as they look to stay at the top of the ladder in search of their first minor premiership since 1964.