Collingwood star Brayden Maynard reveals he was bullied as an overweight kid with a lisp  

Collingwood gun Brayden Maynard has revealed being was bullied at school helped fuel the competitive spirit that has made him one of the toughest players in the AFL.

In a candid interview with the Herald Sun, the Magpies star admitted he was targeted by bullies while at school in Adelaide as he was overweight and hampered by a lisp.  

‘Since I was a young, fat little kid playing sport, I was the most competitive ever. I never wanted to lose and I literally did anything I could to win,’ he said.

‘I was a bigger body when I was younger. I got bullied a bit at school for my shape and size and the way I played footy […] I was an angry, competitive bloke and it’s still embedded in me now. Yeah, at school, I wasn’t really treated well.’

As a kid, Maynard loved playing different kind of sports and used them to channel the anger and frustration that came with being bullied.

‘I played with anger,’ he added. 

‘I loved playing footy, loved playing basketball, played tennis, played cricket […] I somehow would find a way to compete and bring my anger out in other ways.’

The Magpies star channeled the anger stemming from being bullied into sports 

That anger burning inside him, however, could occasionally get the better of Maynard and he copped a couple of suspensions while playing in the TAC Cup for being over-aggressive.

The Magpies enforcer has since learnt to be more controlled, showing exemplary sportsmanship without losing his competitive edge. 

Maynard’s new-found maturity was evident when he checked on Carlton captain Patrick Cripps in a fiery Round 23 encounter at the MCG.   

‘If I see someone on the deck, be it the opposition or my teammate, I like to pick them up,’ he explained.

Maynard is fiercely competitive but has learnt to control himself more on the field 

During Collingwood’s Round 23 win over Carlton, he checked on the welfare of Blues captain Patrick Cripps (left) after the latter had copped a heavy hit 

Sportsmanship was drilled into Maynard from an early age by his uncle, Rod Campbell, who coached the Our Lady of Grace team he played for in Adelaide in years 4 and 5.  

‘What my uncle drilled into us from a young age was sportsmanship, respect and trying your hardest, respecting umpires obviously, respecting the opposition and I feel to this day I’m still living up to those words,’ the Collingwood star said.

‘And I feel that’s shaped me into the footballer I am today on and off the field.’