AFL finals 2022: Collingwood Magpies defender Brayden Maynard could face scrutiny for preliminary final bump

After winning, the two most important things a player hopes to do in a preliminary final are to avoid both injury and suspension.

But a rush of blood from All-Australian defender Brayden Maynard could have the Collingwood hard man in trouble.

Maynard had already been involved in a fiery exchange with opponent Lance Franklin earlier on the first quarter when a mis-directed shepherd off-the-ball floored Swans youngster Justin McInerney.

The ball had just spilled out of play when Maynard approached the dashing Swans defender, and caught him high with a wayward bump.

Maynard played for the Magpies in the 2018 grand final defeat to West Coast but his hopes of a second trip to the decider could come down to the match review officer’s interpretation of the incident, even if the Magpies win.

But former Swans premiership player Jude Bolton said he didn’t feel Maynard had anything to worry about.

“There’s not much in that, McInerney went down pretty easy,” he said.

Camera Icon Brayden Maynard has been handed the match-up on Lance Franklin. Credit: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

It compounded a difficult opening for the Magpies, who conceded the first four goals of the game on the road.

Maynard has the unenviable assignment on legendary forward Franklin, who kicked his second goal of the game just after quarter-time. It was the answer to a Jamie Elliott major which had cut the margin back briefly to 15 points.

The pair came face-to-face in a brutal exchange on the fence, with the Collingwood defender almost pushing Franklin over a boundary fence.

There was more by-play between the pair after the first break, with Maynard attempting to wipe the oil off Franklin’s arms immediately after the Sydney forward kicked his second goal.

It came after West Australian Chad Warner broke away from the middle and delivered direct inside 50 to Franklin’s significant advantage.