Given his late integration into the elite level, the snippets of Archie May’s potential as a mid-season pick created exciting viewing for Dons fans in the back half of 2025. 

The 21-year-old showed promising signs in his seven AFL appearances, most notably in an inspired three-goal burst against the SUNS at Marvel which injected plenty of life into a largely depleted Dons side holding its own. 

With plenty of regular starters such as Kyle Langford and Nate Caddy now back in the fold following returns from injuries and more opportunities to go against experienced defenders like Ben McKay in training, the Club’s young forwards have even more reason to attack this pre-season at full tilt.

May and fellow mid-season draftee Liam McMahon impressed in the Bombers’ most recent match sim iteration on Friday, combining for seven goals at one end while Peter Wright also made massive impact on the scoreboard at the other.

That squeeze for spots on the key forward front has only added to the connection between the group, who are pushing to get the best out of each other.

“It’s not so much the competition, but it’s more all being in the same mindset to get each other better,” May said.

“We’ve done a lot of one-on-one and aerial stuff together, it’s about feeding off each other rather than going off and doing your own thing. Liam (McMahon) and I are working really well at the moment and it’s great with the other young boys to build some connection down there.

“Feeding off guys like Ben McKay in one-on-one drills and doing footwork stuff with him, he’s one of the best in the comp at it, so to see him go about it first-hand (is great).

“Even working with ‘Cads’, who missed a lot of the back end of the season – watching him go about it is pretty cool. I look up to those guys, so it’s been good to have them back.”

One bonus for May entering 2026 has been a first proper exposure to the rigours of an AFL pre-season.

Already impressive in terms of aerobic capacity and power for his age, the former Sandy Dragons and WAFL product has utilised the facilities at his disposal and put in a mountain of work to set himself up for the season ahead. 

“It’s a massive step up in terms of the workload, I must say,” May said.

“At the same time, I’ll be 10 times better for it – I’ve built a lot of great habits over the past few months in terms of my endurance, my speed, overhead ability. 

“(With) a lot of hard work together, it builds those stronger friendships and relationships.” 

May is enjoying the faster, more direct ball movement on display in training to date, citing predictability as the aim when leading up at the footy. 

Capable of pushing up the ground as well as providing an option deeper to goal, May expects to contribute in both areas this year as the excitement within the group continues to build.

“I do see myself with the ability to get up the ground and create a contest, especially out of defensive 50,” May said. 

“I back myself in my running to get back in transition and beat my opponent, so I try to do that to the best of the ability. There’s heaps to work on, which is the exciting bit.

“It’s a lot more predictable as a forward (when it’s coming in quick). Today, we tried to get those deeper entries and it worked a lot better – us forwards back ourselves in to bring it to ground – and being more predictable with our ball movement allows us to do that. 

“To finally come up against some competition is pretty exciting. The boys look forward to it and mark it on the calendar, so we can’t wait.”