Carlton veteran Sam Docherty revealed he is 'pleased' about the Brayden Maynard AFL Tribunal verdict as there is risks playing the sport.
The Blues utility was speaking on AFL 360 after Maynard was cleared by the AFL Tribunal on a rough conduct charge against Melbourne's Angus Brayshaw.
The Sporting News has all the latest on the fallout from the Maynard case.
MORE: Brayden Maynard AFL Tribunal: Result as Collingwood star is cleared
Docherty 'pleased' with Maynard verdict
Docherty felt the right decision was reached by the AFL Tribunal with Maynard's case, stating there is risks in playing AFL and that he believed it was just an 'accident'.
"I think there’s an inherent risk in playing AFL footy that sometimes in football actions people are going to get hurt, whether that’s concussion or other injuries," Docherty told AFL 360.
"In my eyes, this was an unfortunate accident.
"He’s gone up in a game that’s very important to the football club to smother the ball on the way down, you’ve got 0.15 of a second to try and change your body position or get out of the way … the duty of care would’ve been to not jump and smother, but smothering in our game of footy is an integral part.
"I don’t think we’ll find too many situations where this will exactly happen, but there’s risk in playing – and that’s OK, we all go out there knowing that.
"It’s very unfortunate for Angus to be in the position he’s in, but I’m pleased he (Maynard) has got off."
MORE: AFL Match Review: Collingwood star Brayden Maynard learns his fate at the Tribunal
Brayden Maynard AFL Tribunal: Result as Collingwood star is cleared
“[This case could be] so heavily encrusted with hindsight bias that it doesn't do justice to the realities of playing our game,” Maynard’s legal counsel claimed during the hearing.
“This was unfortunate. This was an accident. This was not unreasonable conduct.”
The panel agreed with this assertion as Maynard was sensationally cleared to play after avoiding any sanction for the hit.
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."
What was Brayden Maynard charged with?
Maynard was facing a three-plus game 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 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.
Angus Brayshaw concussion injury
Brayshaw - who wears a helmet when he plays AFL - has had a history of concussion issues in his career, including four in the space of 12 months in his early days.
His brother, Hamish, said the Melbourne star would undergo brain scans for a decision on his playing future would be made.
"I spoke to him earlier on today – he’s having some scans on his brain from the same doctor who looked after him a few years ago," Hamish Brayshaw said from Perth.
"Health comes number one and he’s got a life to live after football.
"I think that’ll be something he’ll assess over the off-season and whether or not his body can keep going, time will tell.”
