Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard opens up on car crash

Brayden Maynard has revealed his dog was nearly killed in a car crash which rocked him ahead of the Pies’ battle with Port Adelaide. He opens up to JOSH BARNES about the fallout.

An emotional Brayden Maynard says he was rocked by a car accident two days out from Collingwood’s thumping win over Port Adelaide given his pet dog was put in harm’s way.

Maynard was involved in a two-car collision in Brighton on Thursday but was unhurt.

Both passengers in the other vehicle were also uninjured.

The defender was hesitant to go into the details of the prang following Saturday night’s win over the Power, fearing he would break down thinking of his dog.

Maynard has posted images on social media of his two pets, an older dog Simon and a younger Doug.

He didn’t reveal which dog was in the car when the accident occurred.

Brayden Maynard celebrates a goal against Port Adelaide. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“It did rattle me a lot. Just the fact I had my dog in the car as well, who copped the brunt of the car crash,” he told this masthead.

“I don’t want to talk about it too much because I will get a bit teary about the what-ifs and what could have happened. I am happy to move on, I was rattled during the week but I am just glad everyone was OK.

“My dog was OK, he was nearly squashed. It was scary but I am really glad we are all OK, including the other drivers.”

Maynard was also involved in a car accident in January last year that was described by Collingwood as “minor”, which led to him missing a pre-season training session.

The on-field antagonist flagged that his side was keen to send a message next time Collingwood faces the GWS Giants, after Giants skipper Toby Greene questioned the Pies’ fitness following a 52-point opening round win.

Toby Greene slammed Collingwood’s fitness after Opening Round. Picture: Michael Klein

Greene told AFL360 on Tuesday that he felt “a clear athletic advantage” late in the win, “which you don’t usually get too often in AFL footy”.

While Maynard tipped his hat to Greene’s Giants, he said he was looking forward to renewing a budding rivalry.

The Pies are not scheduled to meet the Giants again this year, unless they face off in a final.

“I will give it to him, they were fitter than us last week but it will be a different game next time we play them,” Maynard said.

“I have a great amount of respect for Toby. He plays a hell of a game and he is a competitor so for him to make comments like that, I will let him make comments like that. But we will be ready to play next time, that is for sure.”

Despite the opening round loss, Maynard said the Pies never questioned their fitness levels and Craig McRae’s team “had a good look at ourselves” during the week.

Collingwood ran all over Port Adelaide on Saturday in a 91-point win, the biggest loss of veteran Power coach Ken Hinkley’s career.

“We knew we were fit. We did a hell of a lot in the pre-season to get fit and to where we are, it clearly didn’t show last week but it did (against Port),” he said.

Brayden Maynard is mobbed by Magpies teammates. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“We have to move on and it clearly showed (against Port) that we were fit and firing. It was so good to get it done like that. It is only round 1, we have to keep going and keep showing up.”

A tough defender by trade, Maynard snuck forward gleefully during Saturday’s shellacking, kicking two goals in a match for the first time since round 7, 2017, 174 career games ago.

Maynard kicked his pair back-to-back in a minute of brilliance, a feat he didn’t think he had ticked off since he was a youngster.

“Maybe in under-9s when I was playing in the ruck, I might have snuck forward and kicked a couple when I was a bit bigger than everyone else,” he said.

“It probably won’t happen again unless I am lucky so it is bloody good to kick a couple, that’s for sure.”

Originally published as Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard opens up on car crash