Fury over Collingwood star’s divisive, ‘crude’ hit job

Wildly different views are swirling around the footy world after a Collingwood star’s ugly attack that left a rival concussed.

Will Brayden Maynard be suspended for this contest with Daniel Lloyd?

Wildly contrasting views are swirling all over the footy world after Brayden Maynard’s “crude” hit on GWS star Daniel Lloyd.

Maynard is waiting to learn his fate at the hands of AFL Match Review Officer (MRO) Michael Christian after he was placed on report for a spoil attempt that ultimately ended with Lloyd being helped from the field with a concussion.

It was the lowest moment in an ugly day for Collingwood coach Craig McRae, who also lost Patrick Lipinski to an ankle injury, Nathan Murphy to an ankle injury and Nathan Kreuger to a concussion in a 41-point loss to the Giants.

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McRae admitted after the match he was “concerned” about how the MRO will view the incident involving Maynard.

Replays showed Maynard charged in from the side as Lloyd lept into the air to attempt to snatch a contested mark, only for Maynard to arrive late and strike the Giants player in the side of the head.

Brayden Maynard passes as he is tackled. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

Maynard’s action, however, has divided the footy world as a result of the Pies defender also making contact with the Sherrin during the action where he coat-hangered the opposition player.

Lloyd twisted in the air and hit the ground at an awkward angle. The force of the fall resulted in him being taken from the field with concussion symptoms.

He is facing a likely minimum two-week suspension if the MRO rules the contact was “high impact”.

Brayden Maynard might be missing some time after this contest on Daniel Lloyd.

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Footy legend Garry Lyon said on Monday morning the action appeared to be deliberate attack on Lloyd regardless of whether he made contact with the ball.

“I don’t think it was a football action,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.

“He’ll argue he was trying to spoil, but it was worse than clumsy.

“This is a bloke who can thread a ball through a needle and kick around corners.”

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley disagreed with his radio co-host and said it was a “football action”.

“He hit the ball, (it was a) spoil. Incidental contact. The outcome would suggest yes, (he has no case to argue) and if the MRO is looking at outcome, there’s going to be an issue,” he told SEN Breakfast on Monday.

Will Brayden Maynard be suspended for this contest with Daniel Lloyd?

“It was clumsy, but his intent was to spoil the ball and his fist hit the ball.

“Because outcome is what decisions are being made on, he’s in strife. I don’t think his intent was to knock the bloke out. The MRO are making decisions on outcome, so knowing the system, then Brayden’s in strife.”

Earlier, Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton said on Fox Footy he hoped Maynard would escape with a fine and would avoid a suspension.

“That’s pretty crude. There’s no real attempt at the footy there,” he said.

“I like Brayden Maynard and I hope he gets a real good fine for that, but (it might be a suspension).”

Speaking post-game, McRae told reporters: “Disappointing is not a word that comes to mind, we’ll look at the footage and make more sense then, of what it looks like.

“Anything regards to a guy leaving the field with a knock, you’d be concerned if you’re involved in that incident that’s the way the AFL are going to interpret it this year.”

Originally published as Fury over Collingwood star’s divisive, ‘crude’ hit job