AFL greats have questioned Steven May’s professionalism amid reports the injured Melbourne recruit will apologise to teammates for a weekend drinking session.

The former Gold Coast captain has faced heavy scrutiny since arriving at the Demons out of shape during the summer.

May injured his hamstring during the pre-season, missed round one through suspension then suffered a groin injury which has kept him on the sidelines.

Fox Footy reported on Monday night that May was facing a likely club sanction after spending Sunday afternoon drinking with friends at a Richmond pub.

While there is no uniform approach across the competition, it is generally expected that players in injury rehabilitation keep alcohol consumption to a minimum.

“I’m staggered by this, to be honest,” Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy told Fox Footy’s On the Couch.

“I’m disappointed for Steven May. He’s had a troubled start at the Demons and to be caught out or even to just do it behind closed doors, to me, suggests the bloke hasn’t learned his lessons.”

Melbourne gave up their No.6 draft pick to secure key defender May, who had been viewed as a crucial addition to bolster the team’s backline.

The 27-year-old remains several weeks away from returning from injury.

“I don’t know what he’s going through but what I do know is footy isn’t a priority for him,” former Demons coach Paul Roos said.

“It’s clearly not a priority … because he wouldn’t be doing that.”

Fellow backline recruit Jake Lever is on roughly the same injury timeline as May as he recovers from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last season.

May’s latest indiscretion is an unwelcome development for a Demons side that finally had something to celebrate in the form of Saturday’s five-point win over Hawthorn.

The Dees will travel to Gold Coast to face the Suns on Saturday, then face West Coast in Perth and Greater Western Sydney at the MCG.