Outside the progeny of Collingwood royalty there are few players more Collingwood than Brayden Maynard.
Loved like few others both inside the walls of the club and inside the black and white parts of the MCG (not so loved in the non-black and white parts) it would be surprising to consider him playing anywhere else.
Brayden Maynard at training before Christmas.Credit: Eddie Jim
But, he is out of contract and a free agent at year’s end and North Melbourne have made a play for him in the past. So too had Melbourne but suffice to say it would be um, unlikely the Demons would revisit that after the Angus Brayshaw clash.
Maynard said he couldn’t really imagine playing anywhere else and reckoned he was close to signing a new contract. But then added with a dimpled smile that football was a business and anything could happen. He does play in what is now the most stacked part of the Magpies team.
“We’re in a good spot at the moment and I feel like we’re going to be able to get that (contract) done soon. We’ll leave that to my management and the club to get done, but I don’t think there’s any worry there,” he said.
“It would be weird to have any other jumper on, that’s for sure, but it is business. It is a game. Some things do happen, but I think where my position sits now at the club is a pretty comfortable one. I think we’ll be close to getting a deal done. But in saying that it is a business, so who knows what will happen? But I think we’re going to be alright.”
Maynard admitted battling the same plantar fasciitis foot injury that has troubled Nick Daicos this summer but declared both players would be ready for the opening round.
The Magpies’ off season recruiting drive plunge for another flag while they are in the window has seen them tweak and bolster their backline to reinforce the potency of an attack that begins in defence.
Having brought in Dan Houston from Port with his two All-Australian jackets they have significantly lifted the class on the backline (at least for round one for he is suspended for opening round). They have also returned Josh Daicos to defence this summer from a wing.
The trend of the game is to have the best ball users in defence and Houston and Daicos are the best kicks and decision makers at Collingwood along with Josh’s brother, Nick, and the sagacious Scott Pendlebury.
Meanwhile, they have shifted Reef McInnes, who spent his first four years at the club as a third tall forward, to defence. The move has stirred quiet optimism among the Magpies in the summer for they might have found a player. He was struggling to bed a spot as a forward but as a defender, he has the tools to make it.
Reef McInnes of the Magpies.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
In a side that has lacked a genuine second tall defender McInnes could be it. At 194cms, he is very strong overhead with a good football intelligence and high-end speed. His endurance was questionable as a forward but as a defender that has not been a concern this summer.
What it means is that with premiership duo Oleg Markov and Billy Frampton (a defender and role playing tall forward) and then young players like Will Parker, Tew Jiath, Jakob Ryan and Charlie Dean who all got a first taste of AFL football in defence, the Magpies back seven (one on the bench) is tight for spots.
Harry Perryman came to Collingwood as a defender having played his AFL career there at the Giants, but will play as a midfielder. Jack Crisp, who played mid last year will move out to a wing, likewise Will Hoskin-Elliott who will effectively flip positions with Josh Daicos. Pat Lipinski and Steele Sidebottom will also rotate on wings and on ball.
“If you were at training the other day, we sort of had our best team out there, and to be able to include Dan Houston is a real positive for us. His kicking ability is probably one of his main powerhouses, so he’s been training the house down. He’s a really good inclusion for us. And bringing Josh back for a bit of ball use has also been great. I think we’re pretty stacked back there, but who knows what can happen?” Maynard said.
“TJ will probably get a look at it as well, because when he came in against North last year he played really well, and he did double cramp on his first kick, which was pretty funny.
“We have a team that we think we can go deep into the finals and play some good football, but it is a really tough and hard competition, so we’ll see what happens.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
