AFL ladder leaders Melbourne have suspended star defender Steven May for a week after he and teammate Jake Melksham had an altercation after drinking.

May and Melksham had a scuffle in Prahran on Sunday night at approximately 9pm, after drinking at a dinner with teammates earlier in the evening.

The key defender was not meant to be drinking as he was in concussion protocols and has subsequently been suspended by the club, ruling him out of the Queen's Birthday clash with Collingwood.

"Following a dinner on Sunday evening, Jake and Steven informed us of a scuffle that took place after a lighthearted disagreement between the pair escalated," Melbourne general manager of football performance Alan Richardson said in a statement.

"Both Jake and Steven had been drinking at dinner and are incredibly remorseful that things played out the way they did.

"Given Steven is still under the AFL concussion protocols from Round 11, he was aware that under club guidelines he should not have been drinking.

"The leadership group has recommended to impose a one-match ban on Steven, a decision which has been endorsed by the club's broader leadership. This will make him unavailable for both AFL and VFL selection."

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The Demons have lost two games in a row, with May concussed against Fremantle and unavailable against Sydney.

They have desperately missed star defender May but said they needed to stick to their club values.

Both the "extremely remorseful" May and Melksham will also complete community service.

AAP