‘We are creating something special’: Maynard bullish about Pies’ future

Brayden Maynard admits he is not a player prone to overthinking things. He acts on instinct and doesn’t like to clutter his mind with too many thoughts.

So he has been better taking the handball and kicking a goal on the run from outside 50 than he is taking a set shot from closer range. He did both last round: nailed the long bomb, pulled the set shot.

Brayden Maynard has changed his game with the help of Justin Leppitsch.Credit:AFL Photos

But he has been forced to re-think things. In the pre-season he was suspended when he got GWS’ Daniel Lloyd high with the follow-through from a round-arm spoil.

“I had never been suspended, so having a couple of weeks out of the game after a massive pre-season with a new game plan, new coaches and having to miss the first couple of games, it really, really frustrated me,” he said.

“Normally I am all right with decisions if I get fined and whatever happens, happens and I can move on. But being the first couple of games, with the work I had put in doing extra work, to then miss round one, which is one of the best games of the year, was frustrating.”

When he came back to play Maynard admits he was still out of sorts and second-guessing himself on the field.

“I was, it was still going through my head. The way I spoiled I felt like it was fine, it’s natural to me, I got the ball first and I though whatever happened after that happened.

“But I have learnt that instead of coming in with a hook, which looks bad, but I never knew was bad, coming in with a straight fist is better. That is why [defensive coach] Justin Leppitsch has been so good for me because he has taught me how to be a better spoiler with a few tricks he has in his back pocket.

“I have loved working with him – and all the other coaches – but I feel like ‘Leppa’ has been the main one I have learned the most off.”

Maynard was upset to miss the first round of the season through suspension.Credit:AFL Photos

Maynard is a guileless character. He is open, honest and forthright with his thoughts. He loves working with Leppitsch and has found the change of coaching team refreshing and invigorating, having only had one other senior coach for his career. But he doesn’t want that to come off as a criticism of Nathan Buckley and the previous coaches because of what they, too, did for him.

Where others are reticent about talking about leadership he is happy to say he would love to one day be captain. Why not? Who wouldn’t want to captain their club?

He made those comments after he re-signed recently to remain at the club. He looks around at the teammates all gradually re-signing and knows they sense what he is sensing about the direction the team is heading.

“We don’t talk to each other about if we come or go, but I feel like people understand that if they want to be part of something special they should stay because of the new coaching staff and everyone we have got on board. We are creating something special.”

Which brings us to the out of contract Jordan De Goey, Maynard’s close mate. He is such a central part of the conversation around Collingwood and what happens next with him – stay or go – will be important to their list build. Does Marnayd think De Goey will stay?

“I want him to, yeah. I think he will, the club has given him too much and done too much for him, for him to go to another club. And if he does he will be getting a message from me and a knock around the head!” he laughed.

“Yeah, I think he will stay. He is loving the attack the team is playing with now.

“We are still learning, still understanding everything that goes on in terms of game plan and system and finding out a new way to play the game. I feel like when we get clicking we will be hard to beat and we are showing so much, we are doing a lot right.

“You sort of ask yourself, do I want to have success in a champion team or go somewhere get a lot of money in a team of champions or team not as good? We are building something, the culture and mates. Most of the boys have re-signed now. I feel like this team when we get going we will be successful.”

Maynard wants De Goey to stay with the team. He also wants to join him in the midfield. Maynard spent the summer getting ready to be a midfielder: fitter, stronger, learning the plans. But it hasn’t happened. Yet.

He is not banging on Craig McRae’s door demanding to be let into the centre square, but he is unlikely let the idea slide either.

Maynard wants his mate Jordan De Goey to stay with the Pies.Credit:Jason South

“The midfield is looking pretty decent at the moment. I have done all the work to be able to go through there whenever the team needs me but if ‘Fly’ and the coaches need me at half-back that’s where I will play. But when my time comes to do the old switcheroo with someone I’ll be ready.

“It will happen, but it hasn’t happened the first couple of games. I am not knocking on his door. The team need me in the backline at the moment and I am happy there but when the time comes to be able to go there and play mid I know I have done the work to be able to go in there.”

The big change to the game for players this year from the AFL – the crackdown on dissent towards umpires – requires no second thought from Maynard. He is fully supportive; it was drummed into him from a young age.

“I can see where it comes from, it is so much better seeing and hearing about junior footy how they are not arguing with umpires.

“It’s fair and square. Just say nothing. It’s quite funny because I learned when I was in grade 4 and 5 at Our Lady of Grace in Adelaide, my uncle was the football coach and [it was] the first thing he taught us. I will never forget it, he would blow the whistle or pay a free kick and you had to stand there with your hands up and not say a word. If you back chatted to the umpire, you would be sent off in games, he was very strict on that. I have given away a few 50s in my time, don’t get me wrong, but I have always had in the back of my mind ‘you don’t need to argue with umpires. It’s stupid.’”

And he needs no second thoughts on that.

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