‘Can’t believe it’: Demon’s pre-game act horrifies footy commentators
A storm has erupted over the Melbourne Demons’ pre-game act before high drama in their loss to Collingwood.
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Kane Cornes has torn the Demons to shreds over the pre-game treatment of Collingwood “bully” Brayden Maynard.
Maynard was the centre of attention during the Magpies’ big 38-point win on the King’s Birthday at the MCG on Monday.
The Magpies’ aggressor was booed by sections of the crowd throughout the game after he last year delivered what was ultimately the career-ending concussion to Melbourne favourite son Angus Brayshaw.
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Brayshaw retired immediately in February after being medically advised to end his career following an ugly run of head knocks.
That retirement compounded an already ugly fallout to the Demons-Magpies’ rivalry after Maynard knocked Brayshaw out cold during their spiteful qualifying final.
At the time it was reported the Demons were “disgusted” by Maynard’s actions — and it was claimed Dees players were filthy Maynard had visited Brayshaw’s home in an attempt to make a personal apology.
They finally had a chance to send a message to Maynard on Monday — but it was nothing like what footy fans expected.
TV cameras showed Christian Petracca shake hands with Maynard at the start of the game — and also gave him a little tap on the head as Maynard gave him a tap on the rump.
The Demons’ flat performance carried extra significance after last week’s 90-point loss against the Dockers in Alice Springs.
Instead, the Dees had a pressured rating of just 164 — their lowest of the season.
Melbourne were also racked by a litany of skill errors while part of that was due to the ferocious pressure of Collingwood, who easily won the tackles 69-48, Goodwin said his players were also to blame.
Cornes said it was obvious right from the start of the game that Collingwood was going to bully their opposition.
“I couldn’t believe the lack of response, Cornes said.
“That is what struck me. All of the emotion in this game, you wouldn’t believe it, they shook his hand at the start of the game, Brayden Maynard.
“Let’s look at the start of the game… they’re shaking his hand. I couldn’t believe it. A tap on the head.”
When asked if Melbourne should have gone harder at Maynard, Cornes said: “Yes. 100 per cent they should have.
“He was the one that hunted them. This was incredible. He absolutely bullied them.”
Maynard copped the boos all day from the Demons faithful, but the boos were drowned out by the Magpies’ army of fans.
“The crowd is going berserk absolutely every time Brayden Maynard gets the ball,” Channel 7’s Alister Nicholson said.
“Collingwood fans are completely drowning out the Melbourne boos.”
Magpies legend Dane Swan also enjoyed the scene.
“It’s quite cute to hear Melbourne’s supporters try and boo Maynard,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“If you are gonna do something, do it properly. Classless and it starts at the top.”
Maynard was one of the Magpies’ best with 21 disposals and six tackles, and McRae was rapt with how he dealt with the added attention, especially considering he has been dealing with some “unfortunate” personal issues in the past week.
“He’s got a lot going on … I won’t share the details of it, but off the field it’s been really hard for him,” McRae said.
“So I’m sure he wanted to put on a good performance for the stuff that’s happened outside of here.
“He’s a proud man and he played exceptionally well and we love him.”
Quizzed for further details, McRae swiftly moved onto the next topic.
“I’ll leave it,” he said. “It’s unfortunate, what’s happened in his private life. I’ll leave it at that.”
On the treatment Maynard received from the Demons crowd, McRae said: “I thought they were cheers, mate. I only heard cheers.”
The win lifts ‘Fly’s Pies inside the top eight, having claimed their sixth win of the season from 12 games.
The Demons have a bye in round 14 before a clash against North Melbourne the following week at the MCG.
To make matters worse for the Demons, Petracca appears likely to need a long stay on the sidelines after suffering two cracked ribs during the game.
Petracca suffered the injury after copping a knee to the back from Collingwood’s Darcy Moore.
“He’s in hospital. He’s just getting a scan at the moment,” Goodwin said of his superstar post-match.
“So we’re thinking it might be some cracked ribs ... but hopefully that’s all.”
— with NCA NewsWire
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