Archer May
| Archer May | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Archer May | ||
| Date of birth | 27 August 2004 | ||
| Original team(s) | Sandringham Dragons (Talent League)/Subiaco (WAFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 6, 2025 mid-season rookie draft | ||
| Debut | Round 14, 2025, Essendon vs. Geelong, at Melbourne Cricket Ground | ||
| Height | 198 cm (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Essendon | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2025– | Essendon | 1 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Round 14, 2025. | |||
Archer May (born 27 August 2004) is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Junior career
[edit]As a teenager, May played his junior football for St Kilda City JFC.[1] May attended high school at Brighton Grammar, where he played for Old Brighton Grammarians in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA), due to the association between the club and the school.[2] May also played for the Sandringham Dragons in the Talent League, kicking 29 goals from 13 games.[3] However, May was not drafted in his initial draft-eligible year.
Having gone undrafted, May spent two seasons playing for Richmond's reserves team in the Victorian Football League (VFL) before moving to Western Australia in 2025 to play for Subiaco in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).[4][5] May was selected to play for the WAFL in a state game against the SANFL,[6] and shortly afterwards was widely seen as a likely mid-season draft prospect for AFL clubs.[7][8]
AFL career
[edit]May was drafted to Essendon with pick 6 in the 2025 mid-season rookie draft.[9][10] In the lead up to the draft, it had beeen reported that Collingwood had told May, a Collingwood supporter growing up, that they would draft him and he should nominate for an 18-month contract in order to help avoid other club's selecting him before their pick,[11] so Essendon's surprise selection came as a shock.[12]
May played one VFL game for Essendon, before being called up to make his AFL debut in Round 14 against Geelong at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, three weeks after being drafted.[13][14] May had 7 disposals and took 3 marks on debut.
Personal life
[edit]May is the step-son of Australian Football Hall of Fame member and Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton,[15] with May crediting Brereton for playing a big role in helping him to reach the top level.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "We congratulate our former City player Archer May on being picked by Essendon". St Kilda City JFC. 29 May 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Congratulations to Archie May (OB 2022) in being drafted to the Essendon Football Club". Old Brighton Grammarians Football Club. 29 May 2025 – via Instagram.
- ^ "'He was 100kg at 17': Brereton says Bombers landed 'absolute beast' amid comparison to Cats great". Fox Sports (Australia). 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Senior Men's Football Update". Subiaco Football Club.
- ^ "Q&A with Archer May". Subiaco Football Club.
- ^ "WA and SA confirm teams for 2025 State Game". zerohanger.com. 15 May 2025.
- ^ "2025 State Game Player Focus: Archer May (WAFL)". Rookie Me Central. 20 May 2025.
- ^ "AFL Draft: WAFL forward gaining attention, teenager's insane 13-day run". zerohanger.com. 12 May 2025.
- ^ "2025 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft: Wrap Up". Essendon Football Club. 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Injury-hit Bombers go all in on mid-season draft". Footyology. 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Mid-season draft intel: Late whispers, every club's targets". Herald Sun. 27 May 2025 – via Facebook.
- ^ "Collingwood fans left 'salty' after step-son of AFL legend 'stolen' by rival Victorian club". Yahoo Australia. 29 May 2025.
- ^ "Mid-Season Draftees set for Debut". Essendon Football Club. 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Bombers to field ninth and 10th new faces in 51-year first". AFL Media. 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Mid-season draft projections: Step-son of AFL champion Dermott Brereton among hopefuls". Nine Network. 27 May 2025.
- ^ "Draft watch: The mid-season prospect with a special AFL connection". 1116 SEN. 25 May 2025.
External links
[edit]- Archer May's profile on the official website of the Essendon Football Club
- {{AFL Tables}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata.
- {{AustralianFootball}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata.