Max Gawn on what really happened on Brayden Maynard’s visit to Brayshaw house

Melbourne captain Max Gawn has clarified some of the rumours around Brayden Maynard’s awkward visit to the Brayshaw house.

Brayden Maynard (left) and Max Gawn. Photos: Michael Klein

The story that has dominated week two of the AFL finals has taken another twist.

Ever since Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard leapt from the ground and crashed into Demon Angus Brayshaw last Friday, it has taken the lion’s share of attention in the footy world.

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The story developed through the intense focus on the AFL Tribunal hearing that followed, Maynard getting off without penalty and Eddie McGuire’s, let’s say, enthusiastic reaction.

Another element was Maynard’s bold decision to visit Brayshaw at his home less than 24 hours after the event, reportedly with flowers and a bottle of wine in tow.

While it was widely reported the visit was not received well and at least one Melbourne player had to “leave the room”, Demons skipper Max Gawn has clarified events.

Gawn was at Brayshaw’s house and has refuted some of the reporting on a chat with the Marty Sheargold Show on Triple M radio.

Brayden Maynard (left) and Max Gawn. Photos: Michael Klein

Conceding he was “really worried early” and that Brayshaw “had a real bad first night”, Gawn says his teammate and close friend is now a decent chance to play in a preliminary final in a fortnight if the Dees get past Carlton on Friday night.

When it came to the infamous visit to Brayshaw’s home, Gawn said it went about as well as you could expect, at least at first.

“It’s what I expected for a guy that hit someone, well, knocked someone out accidentally the night before,” Gawn said of an apologetic Maynard.

“We weren’t on the couch watching Thank God You’re Here. We weren’t having a genuinely good time.

“But it was certainly not the reports that have come out.”

Gawn said there were longstanding ties between Maynard’s family and some of the Melbourne players, which helped soften the mood somewhat.

Screengrabs of the infamous Maynard hit on Angus Brayshaw. Photos: Fox Footy

Photo: Fox Footy

“Christian (Petracca) was there as well, everyone knew each other,” the ruckman said.

“We played with Brayden’s brother (Corey) three or four years ago, his dad works at the club, so there’s a phenomenal connection between Maynards and pretty much everyone at the football club.”

There had also been reports the flowers had been thrown out, but Gawn revealed he was personally responsible for the arrangement in question.

“I put the flowers in a vase,” Gawn confessed.

“I took them out of the wrapper, is that what you’re supposed to do?

Brayshaw was taken from the field after the Maynard hit. Photo by Michael Klein.

“Didn’t give them a trim and apparently, I got a text later that night from Danielle (Frawley, Brayshaw’s fiancee) that I picked the wrong vase.

“I picked a pink vase, I thought it suited the flowers.”

The All-Australian also had intel on the wine.

“I put the wine in the cellar as well, in a wine fridge or something,” he said.

“It was a Penfolds as well.”

He didn’t reveal any more specifics about the wine, so this story may still have legs.

Penfolds can range from around $14 a bottle for a Shiraz or Cab Sauv through to over $1,000 for a bottle from its famed Grange vintage.