Brayden Maynard is close to full fitness after dealing with a frustrating foot injury in 2024 and hopes for a successful return to the field in the new year.
"My foot is going OK. I'm towards the back end of the whole recovery process. It has been a bit of an annoying one. I had it most of last season. I'm just trying to get it right. It's almost there, which is a great result," Brayden Maynard said.
Brayden Maynard pays tribute to a departed close friend after the Magpies' one-point win over North Melbourne.
"I've had a mental health (challenge) with one of my really good mates. He passed away; he took his own life a couple of Sundays ago. It is very emotional," Maynard told AFL.com.au.
"I feel so much for the family; the whole Collingwood family is by their side. To have a mate go to mental health is really emotional and really sad."
Brayden Maynard has backed the AFL's crackdown on smothers that was prompted by his own controversial Tribunal case which followed him causing Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw to be concussed in the qualifying final.
"It's obviously the right thing to do because everyone's health is a priority. For them to bring out that rule, obviously (I'm) all for it and I'm definitely in favour," Maynard said.
Players will have a greater duty of care to avoid high contact when attempting to smother opponents under a proposed AFL rule change in the fallout of Brayden Maynard's controversial Tribunal case during the 2023 finals series after his bump that left Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw concussed.
The AFL releases a statement on the decision of the independent AFL Tribunal to dismiss the Rough Conduct charge against Brayden Maynard for his collision with Angus Brayshaw that resulted in the Demon midfielder being knocked out on the field.
"Our game’s uniqueness as a contact sport, while celebrated, involves risk of some high contact occurring. The decision to refer the incident to the tribunal was made so the unusual circumstances of this high contact incident could be closely examined, and a thorough and independent process could be run. Whilst the Tribunal’s decision was not the outcome the AFL sought when it issued its match review findings, the AFL respects the reasoning of the Tribunal Panel in arriving at its decision," the statement read.
Melbourne says the health of Angus Brayshaw remains a top priority as the Dees midfielder returns to training after being severely concussed following a knock to the head in a football collision with Brayden Maynard during the Demons' qualifying final loss to Collingwood.
"We need to make sure the athlete, in this case Angus, is clear, is functioning fully and we're really clear about what looks like moving forward. But I think nothing's off the table at this point. We need to make sure he works through these protocols the right way," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.
Brayden Maynard is free to play in the Magpies' preliminary final after having his three-match ban for knocking out Melbourne's Angus Brayshaw overturned by the AFL Tribunal.
Maynard had jumped off the ground in an effort to spoil Brayshaw's kick early in the first quarter of the qualifying final between the two clubs before bracing for contact and collecting the Demons midfielder in the head, rendering him unconscious for two minutes.
Brayden Maynard expresses his ambition to be captain of Collingwood one day.
"It's always been my dream (to captain Collingwood). It'd be quite amazing … (captaincy) is something that I love taking on board and it's not something I would take lightly," Maynard said.
"I've still got a few years in me where I have to learn a lot more and mature, I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do."
Brayden Maynard turns his back on free agency to sign a new three-year deal with the Magpies.
"I saw so many reasons to stay and none to leave. It wasn't a question, in my mind. I’ve been here for seven years ... but the environment ... feels brand new. It’s exciting," he said.
"I’m also thankful for the faith in a long-term deal and the support of those around me. I’m still striving to be as good for Collingwood as Collingwood has been for me."
Jack Crisp wins his first E.W. Copeland Trophy after being named Collingwood's 2021 club champion with 90 votes ahead of Brayden Maynard (70 votes) and Scott Pendlebury (67 votes).
John Noble recounts how he had a reunion of sorts with primary schoolmate Brayden Maynard, who also attended Our Lady of Grace in Glengowrie, South Australia.
"It was funny, because we hadn't actually seen each other for such a long time. It was almost like a reunion after that long. We've spoken a few times about the good old days at OLOG and a couple of mates we both know and the people we still know. It's always a good laugh," Noble said.
Champion Data rates Brayden Maynard as elite in disposals, uncontested possessions, and metres gained so far in 2020, while he's also rated above average for contested possessions and intercept possessions.
"I do feel like I'm playing my best footy," Maynard says.
"I really narrow my game down to defence and how my opponent impacts the game. For example, the game against GWS. Toby Greene probably got best-on. I had a role on him, so to not get that done, I personally hate that."
Brayden Maynard reveals that he has five personal notebooks – one for each of his seasons at AFL level – which contain detailed handwritten notes on each of his opponents.
Maynard compiles up to two pages of intelligence on his opponents with notes from before and after each game.
"Everyone's different. Some players don't write anything down – they prefer to just memorise what they need to do – but I have to write things down in a notebook so I can go back and re-read it a couple of times before I play; and I can also go back and read it if I need to when we play that team again," Maynard said.
Tom Phillips and Brayden Maynard both sign two-year contract extensions which will keep them at the Magpies until the end of 2021 and 2022 respectively.
"It is clear that they already have important roles to play for us, but casting forward we hope that Tom and Brayden, and others of their age and experience, make their mark as leaders and as cornerstone players of the program," Collingwood list manager Ned Guy said.
Brayden Maynard signs a contract extension which will tie him to Collingwood until the end of 2020.
"We are rapt to have Brayden extend his contract with the club through to 2020," Collingwood list manager Ned Guy said.
"With over 50 games under his belt, I'm confident Brayden is only just beginning to help drive the high standards this playing group will take into next season and beyond."
Brayden Maynard's effort to run back into the unknown and pull down a gutsy mark against Geelong earns him the respect of Collingwood players, coaches and fans.
"I had Jamie Elliott by my side telling me that I had to go," Maynard said of his recollections of the moment.
"I saw the ball in the air and I just decided to go, didn't take my eyes off it and lucky enough it landed on my chest."
Brayden Maynard makes his AFL debut for Collingwood at the MCG with 11 disposals (7 kicks and 4 handballs), 2 marks and 6 tackles in a 10-point loss to Hawthorn.
Monday, 8 December 2014
Had his father played just four more SANFL games back in the 1980s, Collingwood draftee Brayden Maynard may well have been selected by the Crows under the father-son rule.
"I've definitely thought about it - leading into the draft, I was thinking about it a bit," Brayden said.
"But as soon I was named by Collingwood, I didn't really worry about it.
"I realised I can't do anything about it, I can't control it.