More details have come to light around the circumstances which saw Melbourne teammates Steven May and Jake Melksham come to blows at a Melbourne restaurant last Sunday night.
May has been suspended for a week after drinking at a team dinner while recovering from concussion, while both he and Melksham will do community service after coming to blows at Entrecôte restaurant in Prahran.
Revealing new details on Thursday night, Sportsday co-host Sam McClure said two separate comments directed at defender Joel Smith escalated tensions, which eventually led to May and Melksham being involved in the heated altercation.
Smith was one of the players who organised the dinner where several of the club's defenders were in attendance.
“There was a comment when they sat down which was made to (Melbourne defender) Joel Smith saying ‘this (dinner) is the best thing you’ve done all year’, made tongue in cheek,” he said on Sportsday.
“Then a different teammate to the person who made the first comment stepped in and said ‘I’ll go further than that, it’s the best thing you did since you were injured in the final’ because (Smith's injury) opened doors for other players to come in (and play in the Grand Final).
“That’s where Jake Melksham said to pull (the comments) back and it’s there where Steven May took umbrage with the Jake Melksham comment and basically said ‘how would you know (how we talk to each other), you usually play in the twos’.”
Melksham underwent surgery as a result of injuries sustained in the fight, which eventauted as tensions escalated and the Melbourne group spilled outside.
The AFL confirmed on Thursday night that the incident was now under investigation.
Melbourne will be looking to put a controversial week behind them when they take on Collingwood on Queen’s Birthday.
Click play below to listen to the full discussion on Sportsday