Time On: Eddie’s Tom Cruise couch moment over Maynard

Eddie McGuire says there was “no malice” behind his impromptu celebration of the Maynard verdict and apologised if “anyone took it the wrong way”.

Time On is your daily wrap-up of all the footy gossip and banter.

Eddie McGuire has apologised if his celebration for Brayden Maynard was misconstrued, explaining that there was no malice towards Angus Brayshaw or the Melbourne Football Club.

Dale Thomas, who posted the video of the jubilant scene on Tuesday night, moved to defend McGuire for the performance at Choi’s Chinese restaurant in Hawthorn after the tribunal cleared Maynard.

The former Collingwood president got up out of his seat, clinked his wine glass and exclaimed: “Ladies and Gentlemen, justice has been done. Maynard is free to play for the Piessss.”

Former Magpies Thomas laughed and told McGuire: “Sit down Dad”.

Thomas has since clarified the circumstances after copping backlash on Instagram for posting the video.

McGuire said on Footy Classified: “Everyone was mucking around. I walked in about five minutes before that happens and everyone as I walked in was asking what’s going with the Maynard sitaution. The whole idea was that Maynard was right (to play). Now people have said was that being disrespectful to the Brayshaws. That was not any thought about that and I apologise if anyone actually takes it that way. It was that Brayden Maynard, a key player going into a prelininary final ... had got through. It was pure fun in what has been a very wrought situation. That’s as simple as it is. You’re still allowed to have some fun in the game.

“There’s no malice towards anyone and unbridled joy that a champion of the Collingwood Fotball Club will be right to play in a final.”

McGuire also took a swipe at the hysteria in the wake of the incident.

“I’ve never seen more leaking and media preparation and media management coming through and then extraordinary statements before a tribual that could cost a player a spot in the Grand Final,’’ he said.

“We understand the emotion because of what happened to Angus Brayshaw and all that. You can have empathy and sympathy, you can see for both players in the situation. Shows were being approached and journos were being rung and lobbied to take a position.”

Thomas said everyone needed to take a breath.

“Just thought I’d quickly take a minute to clear up the fact that my enjoyment for Brayden Maynard getting off and the fact that he can now play in a prelim, isn’t as some of you have suggested in the DMs or in comments, a direct attack at Angus Brayshaw or the serious nature of his head injury.

“I wish him nothing but the best. And it’s also not an attack on the Melbourne Football Club. Let’s just take a breath, this is a fun game, footy is fun. Let’s relax, the sun’s out, have a great day.”

Footy fans responded to Thomas’ Insgtagram post with criticism of the celebration.

“Angus Brayshaw may never play football again because of the Maynard incident, his parents and family would be a mess, and then there is this kind of carry on because Maynard was cleared of any wrongdoing. Poor form Ed,” wrote one

Another wrote: “Meanwhile a guy who lost his father in law who sustained CTE and brain injuries sits at home with yet another concussion and you’re all celebrating like tools in public?”

KIIS FM co-host Jase Hawkins also didn’t hold back, calling McGuire’s act a “w...ker move”.

In an extraordinary spray he said: “Every time I talk to a Pies supporter, why the club has such a bad name, Eddie McGuire’s name comes up.

“Sit down, you knob. There’s a player now who has to sit a week out with a concussion and his family is outraged because he may never play again.

“And you got this d...head sitting up in restaurants screaming stuff like that. That’s not the image the club wants.”

Hawkins’ co-host Lauren Phillips tried to reason that McGuire was just excited Collingwood had Maynard available for the prelim.

Maynard’s good karma

Maynard has been cleared to play in the preliminary final. Picture: Getty Images

It’s been a big week for Maynard and it appears he may have taken time to help someone in need.

In the midst of making headlines he reportedly helped a lady with a broken down car.

The 3AW rumour file on Wednesday morning reported that a certain footballer who has been in the news this week, turned up, went to the local service station, bought a jerry can with 20L of fuel, returned to the lady and filled the car. He refused to accept any payment.

It was heavily speculated to be the Collingwood defender who had come to her aid.

Wedding bells ring for Tigers

There’s been a spate of wedding bells at Richmond with two players popping the question this month.

Jayden Short and Maddy Bekiaris.

Jordy May and Jack Graham.

Jack Graham proposed to his partner Jordy May at the start of September while Jayden Short got engaged to Maddy Bekiaris in the romantic Italian location of Cinque Terre.

Brooke Cotchin posted a humorous video revealing the news to her young son Parker who asked why Short wasn’t marrying him.