- Magpies star Brayden Maynard accused of staging a hoax
- Fans erupt after he falls to the ground against the Suns
Football fans are calling for Pies star Brayden Maynard to be fined after he appeared to fall to the ground with ease to win a free kick against the Suns on Saturday night.
The former All Australian has a habit of falling for the sin of AFL fans, and he did it again in the Sun’s 14.17 (101) to 13.12 (90) victory over the Pies.
Just a week after Melbourne defender Steven May was fined $1,875 for staging, some supporters were calling for Maynard to be banned as well.
During the second quarter, Maynard was involved in some shoving with Gold Coast player Ben Long.
Long pushed Maynard in his abdomen and the Collingwood player fell dramatically to the ground and appeared to hold his head.
“Is it okay for them to stage Maynard? They grabbed his head and tried to sell it as a big hit,” one fan posted on X.
“Maynard can give it but he can’t receive it,” another responded.
“Maynard better be fined for his staging. That was pathetic,” wrote a third.
Magpies star Brayden Maynard (pictured) has been accused of making a scene
“So will the AFL fine Maynard for staging the ball or will he let it slip away like the tackle?” said another.
Comebacks have been a specialty of Craig McRae’s reign at the Pies, but his premiers were unable to add another to their CV on the Gold Coast.
Trailing by 32 points at the end of the third period, the Magpies scored six straight goals to lead by one point with four minutes remaining.
The Suns, after watching North Melbourne blow a 54-point lead a fortnight ago, had other ideas.
A 68-50 inside 50 count was eventually achieved, with Gold Coast kicking the final two goals to win by 11 points.
McRae is proud of his team’s never-give-up culture, but is frustrated that they continue to put themselves in difficult positions.
“It’s pretty obvious… if you look at the intent, the pressure in the fourth quarter,” he said.
‘Why didn’t we achieve that in the second quarter?
‘You have to fight with these things.
‘Sixty-eight inside the 50 is a lot to give up; we would struggle to win any game.
“So there’s a natural emotion of, ‘Let’s get to work.'”
