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Craig Kelly has weighed in on Brayden Maynard’s Collingwood future after it was revealed the premiership defender is coming to grips with playing elsewhere. Recap all the daily footy news here.

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Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly is hoping to keep Brayden Maynard in the black and white stripes beyond 2025 and “show him our love”.

But the Magpies boss is mindful clubs will come for the hard-nosed defender who is out of contract at the end of the season.

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Kelly said rival clubs could offer the All Australian a monster deal to pry him out of Collingwood.

“Whatever we can do to get in front of him and do our very best with Tommy Petroro and ‘Bruzzy’ to show him our love and what we can do financially (while) managing our TPP,” he said on SEN.

“But if someone desperately wants him and wants to pay him a heap more for a longer period of time, everyone should be going: ‘good luck mate if that opportunity is there’.

Brayden Maynard is weighing up his football future.
Brayden Maynard is weighing up his football future.

“We’d love for you to be here, we want you to be here.

“But that is something the industry has got to get its head around and people need to just relax a bit.

“Everyone is talking to everyone when they’re becoming a free agent.

“It’s a great opportunity for the players, and that’s all they’ve got. It’s a short career so let them have the opportunity to max it out, but we’ll do everything in our power to keep him at our club.”

North Melbourne chased Maynard at the end of last season, trying to trade for the defender before he entered his final year on his contract, but that was shut down by Collingwood.

Over the summer, Maynard reiterated his future was at the Magpies and he was looking at signing an extension early in the season.

But after the round 1 win over Port Adelaide, Maynard told this masthead he would “let my footy do the talking”.

“Like I said a little while ago, I would feel weird in another jumper but it is a business so whatever happens, happens,” he said.

“I love Collingwood and we have a great culture here, so we will see what happens.”

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/afl-now-latest-injury-updates-teams-news-and-round-2-preview-on-thursday/live-coverage/7c735e86a462da0f2126a31a6d1ae6f8