AFL Finals 2023: Angus Brayshaw no certainty to be available for possible Dees prelim final

Christian Petracca says Brayden Maynard’s bump on Angus Brayshaw was hard to watch, with concussion campaigner Peter Jess saying Brayshaw’s latest head knock could be career-ending.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 07: Angus Brayshaw of the Demons lays on the ground knocked out during the AFL First Qualifying Final match between Collingwood Magpies and Melbourne Demons at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 07, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Sidelined Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw could miss more than one match with concussion as he battles to overcome the lingering after-effects of Brayden Maynard’s heavy bump.

Teammate Christian Petracca on Sunday said Brayshaw was “not going great” and was dealing with a sore neck after visiting the hard nut midfielder alongside captain Max Gawn.

It comes as concussion campaigner Peter Jess said Brayshaw’s latest head knock could be “career-ending” and “catastrophic” based on his history and the latest research.

Brayshaw’s latest concussion is a serious issue for the premiership ballwinner who took a break from the game in 2017 and considered whether he should stop playing due to his worrying concussion history.

Brayshaw will miss Friday night’s blockbuster semi-final against Carlton and could remain sidelined for the preliminary final the following week – or the Grand Final if the Demons progress – if his symptoms continue.

Petracca said it was difficult to watch Brayshaw get laid out at the MCG on Thursday night and be faced with another worrying concussion setback.

Brayshaw will miss the Dees’ semi-final against Carlton on Friday. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“I went and visited him yesterday with Gawny. He’s not going great to be honest,” Petracca said.

“Obviously he’s had a bit of concussion history, but fortunate it was six years ago. It’s not so frequent, but he’s got a bit of a sore neck.

“It’s really sad, he’s one of my closest mates.

“To see anyone with concussion, whether it’s a Collingwood player or Melbourne player, it is really tough to see someone on the ground.”

Brayshaw will have to pass stringent tests over the next week to be cleared to play in a preliminary final next weekend as Melbourne attempt to sharpen their delivery forward to improve their connection inside 50m.

The Demons will take no risks with Brayshaw due to his lengthy concussion history which includes four head knocks in a 12-month period in 2016-17, while Maynard’s finals campaign also hangs in the balance.

The Collingwood defender will front the tribunal on Tuesday where Maynard will attempt to fight a three-match ban for rough conduct.

Maynard jumped off the ground to smother a kick from Brayshaw but ploughed into the Melbourne midfielder on the way down, making heavy contact with his shoulder to Brayshaw’s head.

At the tribunal, Maynard will argue he did not intend to bump Brayshaw, and that it was an accidental football collision in the act of smothering.

Jess said the incident showed that helmets weren’t effective in preventing concussion.

“The myth about helmets protecting you from concussions has clearly been debunked on the big stage via the Brayshaw collision,” Jess said.

“The AFL invested in a company to manufacture a AFL approved helmet.

“This cannot happen as it is clearly dangerous to the playing cohort.

“The injury could possibly be career-ending given he has had five previous clinical concussions.

“Oxford University research stated three is career-ending.

“The AFL must undertake advanced scanning using MEG scans to determine the structural and functional integrity of his brain to avoid a catastrophic outcome to his brain.”

Jack Viney remonstrates with Brayden Maynard after the hit. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Brayshaw has five years to run on his mega contract which has him signed on until 2028.

Port Adelaide and Brisbane star Tom Rockliff said Maynard could have softened the impact with Brayshaw by stretching out his arms rather than leading with his right shoulder.

“He does have a different option. He could put his hands forward and push (Brayshaw) but he (Maynard) plays on the edge so he is his own worst enemy in this case as well,” Rockliff said on Triple M.

“He always pushes the boundaries and this time unfortunately it’s gone too far.”

Former Carlton and Collingwood star Dale Thomas said Maynard braced himself for contact with Brayshaw to protect himself.

But Thomas said the look of the incident would not sit well with the AFL as it deals with a concussion crisis in the game.

“I find it hard to believe the AFL will allow a player to be knocked under those sort of circumstances (without a suspension) and I think their argument will be that he (Maynard) left the ground and that was his decision made,” Thomas said.

“There was no malice in it, it was just unfortunate the way it played out.”

If found guilty, Collingwood likely appeal the verdict and challenge the ban again at the appeals hearing on Thursday in a bid to clear Maynard for the preliminary final.

Collingwood superstar midfielder Nick Daicos will return for the preliminary final, while John Noble is also waiting wings after being dropped for the first time this season in the seven-point qualifying final win over Melbourne on Thursday night.

Originally published as AFL Finals 2023: Angus Brayshaw no certainty to be available for possible Dees prelim final