Collingwood's Brayden Maynard faces a week of extreme media attention after collecting Melbourne's Angus Brayshaw early in the first quarter of Thursday night’s Qualifying Final.
Brayshaw left the ground on the back of a medical cart and was immediately subbed out for Bailey Laurie, flattened by late contact from Maynard which will be the subject of mass speculation in the days ahead.
Maynard was then captured taunting Jack Viney, who was the beneficiary of a down field free kick.
Gerard Whateley forecast the “two extremes” which will be debated by Match Review Officer Michael Christian before judgement is handed down on Friday.
“There are two extremes here,” he said on AFL Nation.
“It's either classified as accidental. Or Maynard's finals could be over.
“There's extreme drama. It's very rare you see a player knocked out cold.”
Nothing else Maynard could have done there. Thoughts with Brayshaw - but a non-story in terms of a suspension. #AFLFinals
— Kane Cornes (@kanecornes) September 7, 2023
In the same passage of play, Jordan De Goey also appeared to twist his knee and headed straight down in the rooms, but later returned to the field.
Ian 'Bobby' Hill kicked the first two goals of the game, igniting a frenzied Collingwood crowd.
Watch the incident below:
Angus Brayshaw was stretchered off following this incident with Brayden Maynard.#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/flpBmdXtHf
— AFL (@AFL) September 7, 2023
The commentary team discuss in depth as Brayden Maynard collects Angus Brayshaw in the first quarter.#AFLPiesDees #AFLFinals 🏆 pic.twitter.com/14IQLKQj5K
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) September 7, 2023