‘It’ll be weird for me’: Brayden Maynard hints at leaving Collingwood at season’s end
Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard has remained tight-lipped in response to reports linking him to a move to North Melbourne.
Maynard is out of contract at season’s end when he will become an unrestricted free agent, with the initially-expected fresh deal yet to come to fruition.
It has been reported that the Kangaroos have considered tabling Maynard a lucrative five or six-year deal worth as much as $1 million per season.
Dan Houston’s decision to choose the Pies over the Roos during the last trade period has seen the club’s salary cap space to land a star free agent grow.
Asked if he will play on with Collingwood next season, Maynard gave a cryptic response.
“Time will tell. We’ll have to wait and see,” he told Nine’s Today.
“Like I’ve said before, it’ll be weird for me to be in any other jumper – but time will tell.”
In February, the 28-year-old looked set to recommit to the Pies instead of entering free agency but has more recently changed his tune to suggest he is keeping options open.
Collingwood’s addition of Houston and Harry Perryman during the off-season on big-money contracts has Maynard’s salary lagging.
It is likely that he could get paid more if he were to test the open market, therefore, a high-paying offer from the Roos could blow the Pies out of the water.
Tom Powell of the Kangaroos is tackled by Brayden Maynard of the Magpies during their sides’ round 14 clash in 2024. Getty
“There’s an end point in your footy career. If [Maynard] gets offered absurd money to go somewhere else, you weigh up what’s important to you and you make a call,” Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury told 9News Melbourne’s Trent Kniese.
Addressing the possibility of acquiring Maynard’s services, North Melbourne general manager of football Todd Viney explained that while the reports were premature, the club would be interested in adding the 2023 premiership player to their squad.
“We’re aware of every free agent and restricted free agent and players coming out of contract and are scouting that probably two years out,” he previously told 3AW Radio.
“He is a player we’re aware is out of contract and I think in our back-end we’re still developing, but we think we need to stiffen up a bit behind the ball.
“I think, defensively speaking, we need to get stronger and he’s a player that could potentially help us in that area if he decides to ever leave.”
Collingwood will face Sydney on Friday night as part of the AFL’s Gather Round.
Jordan De Goey (right ankle and Achilles) and Lachie Schultz (minor hamstring strain) have both been ruled out of the match with injury.
Houston will also miss the match after he accepted a two-match ban for a high bump on Carlton’s Lachie Fogarty.
