Brayden Maynard's season isn't over after he escaped a lengthy suspension at the AFL Tribunal for his hit on Melbourne's Angus Brayshaw.
Maynard was facing a three-plus game ban for his rough conduct charge but his defence team was able to argue the Collingwood player was simply trying to smother the ball during the incident.
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MORE: Collingwood vs Melbourne highlights, result as Angus Brayshaw, Brayden Maynard collide
AFL Match Review: Collingwood star Brayden Maynard learns his fate at the Tribunal
The Pies star was cleared of rough conduct and will now be free to play for Collingwood in the finals.
Maynard pleaded not guilty to his rough conduct and careless conduct citations, while the AFL stated he had enough time to avoid the smothering action which caused Brayshaw to suffer a heavy head knock.
"A player in this situation who wants to smother, it might just be too unsafe to do so, because of the forward trajectory,” AFL counsel Andrew Woods said.
"Other options that were available were he could have made a more upright jump … that's an obvious example where you could lessen impact.
"Leaping forward in the air with force to an opponent running in the opposite direction holds a key risk of badly injuring their opponent.
“It's a dangerous action to undertake and it breaches the duty of care owed to the other player."
Although Maynard claimed during his cross-examination that he was unable to carry out any other action in the split-second nature of the collision.
"I feel like when I went to smother, it was a flinch reaction," he said.
"I seized up. Next thing I know he was on the floor, and I was a bit rattled myself.
"It happened very quickly. I didn't see him coming down my line. I saw him to the right of me."
After a marathon hearing which stretched over three hours for submissions before it took the Tribunal nearly an hour to deliberate, Maynard was found not guilty.
Brayden Maynard avoids ban for Angus Brayshaw hit
Maynard was facing a lengthy suspension with his rough conduct charge sent to the Tribunal for the hit on Melbourne's Brayshaw.
The incident occurred early in the game and saw Brayshaw stretchered off with concussion, not returning to the field of play.
As Brayshaw went to kick the ball, Maynard launched himself in an attempt to smother before turning his body sideways and making contact via his shoulder with Brayshaw's head.
The incident was originally assessed as careless conduct, severe impact and high conduct.
Angus Brayshaw was stretchered off following this incident with Brayden Maynard.#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/flpBmdXtHf
— AFL (@AFL) September 7, 2023
After the hit, Melbourne players, including Jack Viney remonstrated with Maynard.
Jack Martin to fight two-match ban
Jack Martin will miss Carlton's semi-final clash, but could be available for a potential preliminary final berth after having his charge downgraded on Tuesday night.
The MRO graded the contact as careless conduct, high impact, and high conduct, which would resulted in a two-match suspension - but the impact was downgraded to 'medium' and a one-game ban.
Jacob van Rooyen out of Melbourne's semi-final
Jacob van Rooyen has been handed a one-game suspension and will miss Melbourne's semi-final after striking Collingwood's Daniel McStay.
The incident was assessed as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
Jacob van Rooyen has been handed a one-match suspension for striking following this incident with Dan McStay.
— AFL (@AFL) September 8, 2023
Full Friday MRO findings: https://t.co/H6GWmkueZW#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/ZvhEyeMIbL
