Brayden Maynard could miss month with foot injury after Pies’ win over Kangaroos

Collingwood are set to count the cost of their victory over the Kangaroos, but will do so with $50,000 still in their pockets after avoiding a fine from the AFL for a rare breach of game day rules.

Collingwood dodged a fine of up to $50,000 after being granted permission to bring Oleg Markov into the side from outside its emergencies against North Melbourne as the club sweats on scans for star defender Brayden Maynard.

Collingwood believes Maynard has partially or fully torn his plantar fascia after concerns across the early rounds and while a complete tear could provide relief, a partial tear might see him miss a month or more as it heals.

The Pies continued their brilliant run this season by overpowering North Melbourne with a withering late burst but not before lashings of pre-match drama.

Former captain Scott Pendlebury was a late out with gastro which allowed emergency Wil Parker to come into the side when the teams were lodged.

Bobby Hill’s personal issues meant Oleg Markov was then brought into the side from outside the emergencies.

AFL executive football boss Laura Kane used her discretion to allow the move under exceptional and compelling circumstances given Hill’s situation.

The Pies could have chosen one of their other emergencies (Harry DeMattia or Charlie West) in exchange for Hill but were allowed to make the unusual substitution.

It is understood the league receives a handful of similar requests each year which are often knocked back but given Hill’s sensitive personal issues the Pies’ request was granted.

Markov revealed to Fox Footy post-match he was coming out of hardware store Bunnings with his hands full when he was called at 3.15pm by his coach.

Instead of continuing with his flooring project as he renovates his house, he switched into game mode as the Pies sub.

When Essendon brought Joe Daniher into their side for a 2019 Good Friday clash from outside the emergencies because of Zac Clarke’s calf strain they were fined $20,000.

The league’s rules state: “If a player is listed on the official team sheet and was not listed on the team list at the time it was lodged with the AFL, under this regulation 11 or added to the team list under regulation 11.3, the club may be liable to a sanction … up to 50 units ($50,000) for each breach.”

Oleg Markov was a late, late addition. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Collingwood coach Craig Macrae said the Pies had been pleased the AFL approved the elevation of Markov.

“We got information this afternoon Pendles was not well and had gastro and I won’t go into Bobby’s stuff because it’s really quite personal and not for me to talk about but we thank the AFL for their understanding.

“This happens once in a thousand. To get things where we needed to be was a pleasing part of the game because some guys weren’t playing until an hour before the game.”

He said post-match Maynard’s lingering plantar fascia concerns had worsened after an “actual incident”.

If Maynard has partially or fully torn the plantar fascia he will need some time out to manage the pain of the foot concern.

“He’s been having symptoms of that for a while now … but this is an actual incident that’s caused some sort of trouble there, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Hill’s return date is unknown, but coach Macrae suggested Darcy Moore (shoulder), Lachie Schultz (concussion) and Jordan De Goey (Achilles) were in line to return against Hawthorn.

Steele Sidebottom (back) is also likely to return against the Hawks.

The Pies are set to be without Brayden Maynard for an extended period. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images

While Jamie Elliott’s five goals got the Magpies over the line, full back Billy Frampton and youngsters Ned Long and Ed Allan were impressive.

Long will take on his former side Hawthorn next week after they delisted him in 2023.

“We are rapt, it shows we have some depth in our list,” Macrae said.

“Young guys can come in and do their job, Ed Allan had a career high game and we are really excited for what he did tonight. Wil Parker comes in and does a great job and it just shows tonight we have got a lot of depth.

“I am really pleased with Ned Long’s game tonight. He had 15 score involvements, it’s a huge number and he had 14 tackles. I am pleased some of our lesser lights are getting some recognition.”

VETERANS SET TO RETURN AS TIGERS BATTLE BALTA CURFEW AGAIN

– Jon Ralph

Richmond will welcome back Dion Prestia, Tom Lynch and captain Toby Nankervis against the Giants as the club investigates whether Noah Balta can squeeze in a western Sydney VFL clash while returning for a 10pm Melbourne curfew.

Prestia played three quarters of game time in the VFL on Saturday night against Essendon in his first clash of the year after soft tissue concerns.

The Tigers will assess how he pulls up but the plan is to play him against GWS if he gets through training this week.

Nankervis was battling an ongoing knee injury and the Tigers were not prepared to risk him in case he missed the next fortnight but he will play GWS.

Lynch suffered delayed concussion symptoms the previous week but made strong progress in the early phases of the concussion protocols so should be ready to return.

The Tigers threw young key back Luke Trainor forward early against Essendon to bolster their young forward line but Lynch was badly missed.

ACL victim Mykelti Lefau has now played two VFL games since his return and kicked two goals from eight possessions on Saturday night.

Prestia had 20 possessions, four clearances and kicked a goal in the win over Essendon’s VFL side.

Balta is unable to play in the 4.15pm AFL game against the Giants at Engie Stadium because he cannot get back before 10pm but the VFL game starts at 12.30pm.

Richmond will not take any risks given missing curfew could see him subjected to more penalties but even a 5pm flight after the curtain-raiser would get him back into Melbourne at 6.35pm.

Richmond will need to replace Thomson Dow (kneecap) and Sam Lalor (hamstring) after injuries against Essendon on Friday night.

Dow had a recurrence of a kneecap dislocation so will need more scans, while Lalor has a left hamstring injury.

The Tigers are aware their draftees have been subjected to a heavy workload and are determined not to overload them or rush them back when they suffer injuries.

Balta will miss multiple games due to the curfew. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images

No. 7 draft pick Josh Smillie suffered another hamstring setback in the VFL and was immediately put into a strengthening and conditioning phase instead of being put back into action.

So Lalor, who had never done a full pre-season before given cricket commitments, could easily be sidelined for a month or more to ensure he is fully ready to go.

It would likely put paid to any Rising Star hopes but Richmond has shown with returning ACL victims like Taj Hotton it is not prepared to take any risks.

Hotton is still 5-8 weeks away.

Richmond will not take a mid-season draft pick given it took eight selections in last year’s national draft and does not have a season-ending injury.

The Tigers would have had the third overall pick but are thrilled with the development of last year’s selections Campbell Gray and Jacob Blight.

Tall swingman Blight was dominant in the VFL on Friday night (25 possessions, seven intercept marks) and has already shown his potential this year in the AFL.

Coach Adem Yze said key defender Gray looked like an AFL player against Essendon after an impressive round seven debut against Melbourne and will have to find a way to keep the former key forward in the side when Balta returns.

Originally published as Brayden Maynard could miss month with foot injury after Pies’ win over Kangaroos