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Collingwood veteran Steele Sidebottom insists teammate Brayden Maynard is a fair player and is guilty of only a football act, as the defender prepares to put his finals fate in the hands of the AFL tribunal.
While the Magpies’ stirring victory over Melbourne has booked a preliminary final berth and given them next weekend off, vice-captain Maynard has a nervous wait.
Brayden Maynard crashes into Angus Brayshaw.Credit: Channel Seven
He is facing the prospect of a three-match suspension – which would end his season – after his collision with Angus Brayshaw prompted a rough conduct charge that was sent directly to the tribunal. Brayshaw was concussed, and is “not going great”, according to teammate Christian Petracca.
Ahead of the Magpies’ training session on Monday, Sidebottom stressed Maynard had only the ball in mind when he collided with Brayshaw.
“I guess it’s (a question of): Why is he jumping in the air, for a start? He was making a play at the footy, and I think it was a footy play; there was no malice in it,” Sidebottom said, when asked whether Maynard had a duty of care to his opponent.
“‘Bruz’ [Maynard] is a fair player, and it’s just unfortunate how it ended.”
Magpies veteran Steele Sidebottom spoke in defence of his teammates Brayden Maynard before training on Monday.Credit: Getty
Maynard’s collision came after he jumped and attempted to smother Brayshaw’s kick, the Demon running towards him, before Maynard landed on his former junior teammate and knocked him out.
Maynard, who turned his body at the point of impact, will need to prove he did all he could to avoid contact.
Sidebottom – a 2010 premiership player with the Magpies – said there were many examples, such as the Maynard-Brayshaw example, where players had barely a split second to change direction or pull out of a contest.
“It’s near-on impossible, really. I think the decisions that you make – and I have copped weeks before – you are never go out there to hurt someone; you don’t want to be missing games of footy as well,” Sidebottom said.
“But the game happens so fast. There are times when things happen, almost you can’t control. It’s a 360-degree game, there are guys coming from everywhere. Sometimes it’s unfortunate that things like that happen. But that’s the game that we play and accidents are going to happen at times. As I said, our concern is for him (Brayshaw), and, hopefully, he pulls up well.”
Sidebottom said Maynard, a robust half-back, was a hard but fair player.
“You have watched him play as well. He hasn’t ever really stepped over the line. When he goes out there, he plays hard and fair. That’s what I see,” Sidebottom said.
Despite the fall-out from the incident, Sidebottom said he and his teammates would not be hesitant when it came to physical contests.
“No, not at all. You can’t be, really. There are rules in place … (for) things are going to happen that you can’t always control,” he said.
Jack Viney remonstrates with Brayden Maynard, who now has a nervous wait ahead of his AFL tribunal appearance.Credit: Paul Rovere
Maynard received public support from his former coach Nathan Buckley on Monday, who questioned whether there was more he could have done in a contest that was played at “break-neck speed”.
Maynard’s potential suspension means there will be at least one change to a side that will face either Port Adelaide or Greater Western Sydney.
Nick Daicos continues to lift his training loads in his recovery from a knee injury against Hawthorn in round 21. The star ball user, one of the favourites for the Brownlow Medal, is an automatic inclusion when fit.
“I am sure Nick is happy we got the result because it gives him the extra week to get ready,” Sidebottom said.
Small defender John Noble, a surprise axing ahead of the qualifying final after 83-straight games, is also an option, should the Magpies make multiple changes.
Fringe player Will Hoskin-Elliott was among the Magpies’ best on Thursday with 468 metres gained, while Buckley said Oleg Markov, another fringe player, had delivered the hardness at the contest he wasn’t renowned for.
The Magpies had excellent contributions across the board on Thursday, with room to improve. Sidebottom had 22 disposals on a wing on a night fellow wingman Josh Daicos was held to only 14. Small forward Bobby Hill had three goals from 13 touches, while Jordan De Goey, who was assessed for a leg issue through the game, was strong without being a matchwinner.
A point of intrigue will be whether Jack Ginnivan remains the substitute.
The Magpies thumped the Giants by 65 points in their lone meeting this season, in round nine at the MCG, while the Magpies twice defeated the Power, by 71 points at the MCG in round two, and by two points at the Adelaide Oval in round 19.
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