AFL finals 2023: Angus Brayshaw ‘feeling better’ after Brayden Maynard collision

Angus Brayshaw was back at training on Tuesday as Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin gave an update on his recovery and doubled down on his post-game comments.

Angus Brayshaw of the Demons has a very light jog during Melbournes training session at Casey Fields, Cranbourne Photo by Michael Klein.

Angus Brayshaw hasn’t yet discussed his playing future with the Melbourne and turned up for training with the Demons on Tuesday feeling “a lot better” as he moves through the AFL’s concussion protocols following a sickening hit at the MCG last week.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said the star midfielder had improved in recent days after he was knocked unconscious in a first-quarter collision with Brayden Maynard in Thursday night’s qualifying final.

He was embraced by his teammates on the training track on Tuesday and and ran some laps in a positive sign.

But whether Brayshaw could return for a preliminary final or face a longer absence from the game remains to be decided, with Goodwin telling reporters on Tuesday the Demons would be extremely cautious due to his history of head knocks.

. Angus Brayshaw shakes hands with and hugs assistant coach Troy Chaplin during Melbournes training session at Casey Fields, Cranbourne Photo by Michael Klein.

Brayshaw missed half of his second season in 2016 and the majority of 2017 after suffering four concussions over 12 months and has played wearing a helmet since that period.

“(Brayshaw) is progressing well, clearly he’s in the protocols and there’s more checks that need to be done,” Goodwin said.

“We certainly won’t take a risk with him as a player … there’s a big picture to think of here with Angus, and we’ve just got to make sure that everything is done properly. His health is paramount in this situation.”

Brayshaw’s brother, former West Coast footballer Hamish, told reporters in Western Australia at Monday night’s Sandover Medal count that the 27-year-old would undergo brain scans to assess the damage from the collision.

Goodwin said the scans were “normal procedure” for someone with Brayshaw’s concussion history.

“(The scans) will give us some real comfort about where his health sits, and I think we need to do that as a footy club, Angus needs to do that, his family needs to understand that, and we make sure he steps through the protocols in the right way,” Goodwin said.

“We certainly haven’t had any of those discussions at all,” he said when asked if Melbourne and Brayshaw had discussed his playing future.

Maynard will face the tribunal on Tuesday following the first-quarter collision. Picture: Fox Footy

“Clearly with concussion, you need to make sure everything is done properly. We’ve seen a number of players retire due to concussion, so we need to make sure the athlete, in this case Angus, is clear and is functioning fully.”

Hours before Maynard’s tribunal appearance on Tuesday afternoon, Goodwin stood by his post-game comments that the Magpies defender should face consequences for the outcome of his attempted smother.

“I think the whole footy world is looking at this case for a whole range of different reasons, and post-game I gave the basic facts about what took place,” he said.

“But ultimately we’re looking at what a duty of care looks like in this space – to have a player concussed for two minutes, I think we’re all looking at the different types of footy acts that are out there.

“I think this is another example of what does a duty of care look like in a football act, and the whole footy world will be looking at the outcome.”