AFL finals 2023: No talk required with Brayden Maynard, says coach

Magpies coach Craig McRae says Brayden Maynard is focused solely on the preliminary final and his battle with a GWS superstar.

Brayden Maynard and Darcy Moore tangle during training. Picture: Michael Klein

Brayden Maynard “tread on the line” when he collided with Angus Brayshaw, but his coach says the Magpies defender has moved on and is ready for his battle with a GWS superstar.

Maynard boasts a strong defensive record against All-Australian captain Toby Greene and looms as the obvious match-up for him when the Pies meet the Giants on Friday night.

McRae backed him to perform against the league’s best small forward and said he had full faith in Maynard’s ability to play his natural game despite the fallout from the qualifying final collision that knocked Brayshaw out cold for two minutes.

“I’d steer away from telling players how to play to their strengths … we would encourage them to be the best version of themselves – he’s a hard, uncompromising player, and unfortunately that one tread on the line,” McRae said.

“And Brayshaw, I still hope he’s OK … we talk about two, three weeks later, we still care about the guy … hopefully he’s going well.”

Brayden Maynard and Isaac Quaynor are the Magpies’ two main options to combat GWS star Toby Greene in the preliminary final. Picture: Michael Klein.

McRae would not guarantee a head-to-head battle between Maynard and Greene but admitted it was likely the Magpies would stick to their proven formula.

“I think so, he’s had a good record against Toby, but we’ll wait and see because we have certain layers of our defence that we like to match up on,” he said.

“He’s had a good record against him, but (Greene) is a quality player and so significant to the way they play and in great form, so that will be a great match-up to watch.”

Greene told reporters on Wednesday that he would enjoy the challenge against whoever is sent his way.

“It will be a great battle no matter who it is – him, Quaynor, Howe. It will be good fun. They are all bloody good opponents,” the GWS skipper said.

The Giants have held firm under the pressure of playing in front of St Kilda and Port Adelaide-dominated crowds in their first two finals, but McRae said the atmosphere at a sold-out MCG on Friday would still provide the Magpies with a significant edge.

The Magpies faithful was in full voice at Wednesday’s open training session, with several thousand in attendance and a queue for the merchandise shop snaking for almost 100m.

An estimated 4000 fans packed into Olympic Park for the Magpies’ open training session on Wednesday morning. Picture: Michael Klein

McRae recalled the crowd’s influence in the 2017 preliminary final between the Tigers and Giants when he was an assistant at Richmond.

“That’s huge, it’s a huge advantage for us. I was involved at Richmond across the road who played a preliminary final years ago against GWS … the roar of the crowd when Richmond kicked the first goal was significant, I’ve never heard anything like it,” he said.

“That is an advantage, you have to play against that … we have an advantage and we want to bring our fans along for the journey, and I’m sure they’ll be nice and loud on Friday night.”

McRae said he had put his friendship with fellow former Tigers assistant Adam Kingsley on hold for this week.

“Kingers and I are very similar, he just does a lot more weights with his arms – he spends so much time in the gym!” he joked

“He’s a great fella, I’m really happy for him. I’m not surprised by the success that follows him, it’s always followed him on his journey, so I wish him well, just not next week.”