Magpies star Brayden Maynard accused of staging as fans call on AFL to fine Collingwood player
- Magpies star Brayden Maynard accused of staging
- Fans explode after he went to the ground against the Suns
Football fans are demanding that Pies star Brayden Maynard be fined after he appeared to go down easily to gain a free kick against the Suns on Saturday night.
The former All Australian has a habit of being courted by AFL supporters. He succeeded again in the Sun’s 14.17 (101) to 13.12 (90) victory over the Pies.
Just a week after Melbourne defender Steven May was fined $1,875 for staging, some supporters are calling for sanctions for Maynard.
During the second quarter, Maynard was involved in some tussle with Gold Coast player Ben Long.
Long pushed Maynard in the midriff, causing the Collingwood player to fall dramatically to the ground and appear to hold his head.
“Great entrance for Maynard’s staging? Grab his head and try to sell it as a hit,” one fan posted on X.
“Maynard can give it, but he can’t receive it,” replied another.
‘Maynard should be fined for the staging. That was sad,” a third wrote.
Magpies star Brayden Maynard (pictured) has been accused
“So will the AFL fine Maynard for staging it or let him get away with it like the sling tackle?” said another.
Comebacks have been a speciality of Craig McRae’s time at the Pies, but his premiers failed to add any to their resume on the Gold Coast.
By the end of the third period the Magpies trailed by 32 points, but they scored six goals in a row and led by one point with four minutes remaining.
The Suns, after seeing North Melbourne surrender a 54-point lead two weeks ago, had other ideas.
In the end, an inside-50 count of 68-50 turned out, with Gold Coast scoring the final two goals to win by 11 points.
McRae is proud of his team’s never-give-up culture, but also frustrated that they keep putting themselves in tough situations.
“It’s pretty clear… you look at the intent, the pressure in the last quarter,” he said.
Why don’t we deliver that in the second quarter?
“You struggle with this stuff.
‘Sixty-eight in fifty is a lot to give up; we would struggle to win any game.
“So there’s a natural emotion of ‘come on, let’s get started’.”