Brayden Maynard’s season hangs in the balance after the AFL referred the Collingwood star’s controversial collision with Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw directly to the Tribunal.
Just minutes from the opening bounce at the MCG, with the Magpies already leading the Demons by 12 points after a fast start, Brayshaw escaped from a centre bounce and sent the Dees inside 50 for the first time… and was poleaxed by an onrushing Maynard as he did so.
Attempting to smother, Maynard left the ground as Brayshaw kicked the ball forward, then clattered into the Demon shoulder first.
In a stunning development, it is believed the AFL and new football boss Laura Kane, as well as CEO Gillon McLachlan and heir apparent Andrew Dillon, intervened in the match review process, and possibly overruled the league’s Match Review Officer Michael Christian.
Under normal circumstances, it is Christian’s discretion to determine whether incidents are severe or unusual enough to be sent to the Tribunal without his verdict.
Christian could have decided to send the incident to the Tribunal anyway, which is an automatic destination for any incidents deemed as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, which was the likely verdict for Maynard if indeed it was decided he had a case to answer.
Demon Jacob van Rooyen has been given a one-match suspension for a high elbow on Magpie Daniel McStay.
At the time, Channel 7’s commentary team were all adamant Maynard should have no case to answer, even as furious Demons players led by Jack Viney engaged with the hot-headed Pie in a fierce stoush as tempers boiled over.
“Maynard plays on the edge, but in my view there is nothing in this,” current great and 2016 Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield said.
“You have a duty of care to yourself, to protect yourself as you come in to land.
“Unfortunately, in this game, there’s contact that occurs… he’s in the air for half a second beforehand, it’s almost that long in the air before he makes contact.
“I know so much of what we’ve done around the rules has been what the outcome is, but I see it differently… he [Maynard] can’t protect himself either from Brayshaw, so he’s at the mercy of the oncoming player.”
Former Richmond great Matthew Richardson had a similar view.
“He’s jumped in the air to smother, he then cannot avoid contact… I mean, what else can he do?” Richardson said.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
#Macca However it was the same MRO - - and he again didn't want to cite the Maynard case (like with Duncan). We know Christian's POV. And......what we saw this week gone was the fall out from the inaction in 2021. The MRO ought to have put the case up to the tribunal to be tested in 2021. He didn't. As a result we instead got a high profile case in the middle of the 2023 finals. I argue that to have been negligent conduct by the MRO. He needs to understand that now and then he will deal with cases that shouldn't be swept under the carpet. As it is now - - I think we can take for granted that the AFL will make 'adjustments'. For me - - moving the current MRO might be one of those. btw - the other element of this - - is that we've only seen that level of clumsiness by the 'smotherer' a couple of times.......i.e. Duncan in 2021.....Maynard in 2023......so - I'd be very comfortable with such reckless attempted smothers being subject to punishment; because just like tackles, bumps, shepherds - - if you get it right....tick.....get it wrong....perhaps a free......get it very, very wrong - then get rubbed out. Fine with that.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Apples and Walnuts comparison.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
All oblate spheroid ball games will undergo massive rule changes.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Nor Kansas
Handles
Roar Guru
How many other smother attempts in this or any other game resulted in this sort of forceful collision? It's not a common occurrence, because most players would foresee that running head on at someone and jumping is dangerous. Even in rugby Maynard's actions would be deemed careless. And the fact that a person kicking the ball is generally unable to protect themselves is also a factor.
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
Initially, I wasn't sure what Maynard could do. But even if he'd smothered it, he still would have knocked out Brayshaw. He launched his whole body at a player and knocked him out - actually quite reckless. I don't think we'll see Maynard again til 2024. He needs to tone down the knuckle-dragging stuff.
sunnycoasttiger
Roar Rookie
Apples and oranges, dude. Ridiculous! At best!
No9
Roar Rookie
There's an awful lot of misconception about a duty of care in sport . A duty of care is is limited to what is a foreseeable risk . Was there a foreseeable risk of injury to Brayshaw ? I can't see that when this sort of attempt to smother has been around for a very long time around the country . Maynard could not have foreseen this injury happening to Brayshaw .
No9
Roar Rookie
This is absurd . Maynard tried to contact the ball , not Brayshaw . Some vision shows the ball passing Maynard's hands and at that point he is in the air .That is a realistic attempt to smother . Some vision also shows Maynard's left hand is open in an attempt to soften impact . That shows an absence of malice . Further , Maynard does not drop his shoulder into Brayshaw . He is coming down and his shoulders remain even . If Maynard is found guilty then in my view the AFL ignore not only their own rules but also ignore these facts This attempt to smother the kick can be seen around the country every weekend : without penalty . The question that is to be answered is : in what action is Maynard careless? In what does the charge allege is careless ? If this goes to the state judiciary I can see the charge being thrown out ...with advice to change the rules relating to this action if the AFL want it deemed illegal .
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
I follow the pies . Maynard has no hope at all .
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
He won't be free to play.. not a hope in hell.. the hyperbole is just complete and utter overthink
Birdman
Roar Rookie
They've always been soft on Geelong.... :silly:
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Time for Michael Christian and the Tribunal to go. The consistency of decisions has been on the slide not improving. Lots of shockers this year but the Sicily suspension was the last straw for me.
Handles
Roar Guru
Appreciate that Pete. But the definition of duty of care is that you don't get yourself in that position.
junk
Roar Rookie
Maybe. But that is a ridiculous comparison. In your example you have someone who always has eyes for the ball and its accidental. Very different to someone who charges an opponent and makes contact a loong way from the ball.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
And then that would have been a genuine accident with no one at fault. But when one uses the shoulder and the other doesn't... Fault is clear
Ace
Roar Rookie
Peter I think perhaps you are the one bracing for impact because this ,I feel, does not bode well for Maynard no matter how you spin it. Sorry, but he is in trouble
Ace
Roar Rookie
Precisely Shane
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Junk, that is a ridiculous comment. Howe takes mark of the year, unfortunately knocks out a bloke with his knee who never plays again. So Howe rubbed out for taking mark of the year?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Handles, he didn’t throw himself into an airborne bump though. He tried to smother, then braced for impact.