{"id":782753,"date":"2026-07-06T14:02:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T14:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/782753\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T14:02:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T14:02:16","slug":"brayden-maynard-explains-careless-umpire-contact-in-wild-brawl-after-ben-long-hit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/782753\/","title":{"rendered":"Brayden Maynard explains \u2018careless\u2019 umpire contact in wild brawl after Ben Long hit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Collingwood<\/a> hard-nut Brayden Maynard has explained his role in the massive brawl that saw an AFL<\/a> umpire get caught in the crosshairs. <\/p>\n

The AFL\u2019s match review officer handed out 19 fines and one suspension spread across 14 players<\/a> after a massive brawl during Collingwood\u2019s win over Gold Coast on Saturday. <\/p>\n

Maynard himself copped three separate fines, while Gold Coast midfielder Touk Miller received two, and his Suns teammate Ben Long was handed one fine and a two-game ban for rough conduct. <\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

Miller and Maynard were both fined $5000 for making contact with umpire Nick Brown, who became collateral damage of the fracas.<\/p>\n

But the origins of the fight started seconds earlier when Long hit Maynard in the ribs from behind<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Speaking to Ausmerican Aces on Monday, Maynard said he never meant for the umpire to be involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had one man and one man only in my eyesight, and that was big Benny Long,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cLook, I\u2019ve got a great amount of respect for Ben. He actually was playing his 150th game and I congratulated him on that part of the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut when I got hit from behind and I didn\u2019t know who it was, it sort of rattled me and it actually really, really hurt. So I just got up and thought, \u2018I\u2019ve got to get my revenge back ASAP\u2019. <\/p>\n

\"BraydenBrayden Maynard appeared to make contact with the umpire during the wild brawl. Credit: Fox Footy<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s funny that there was only five seconds left to go before the half-time siren, so as soon as that went, I just looked at him and went, \u2018You\u2019re mine\u2019. It was sort of on for young and old then, but I mean, that\u2019s part of the game. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was running over there, I came from about 50 metres deep, so I probably should have been aware of what was around me.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut like I said, I had my eyes on one man and one many only, and unfortunately the umpire was in the way. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was careless; I didn\u2019t mean to touch him, he sort of just was there in the middle, I had to get him out of the way. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no malice in it whatsoever. If I didn\u2019t move him out the way I probably would have bulldozed him over, let\u2019s be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BraydenBrayden Maynard sparked a melee against the Suns. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Maynard\u2019s three fines totaled $8000, down to $7000 with early pleas for two of them, for his instigation of and involvement in the melee, while Miller\u2019s two are worth a combined $6500, down to $6000 with an early plea for one.<\/p>\n

Reductions with early guilty pleas were not made available to Maynard and Miller for their umpire contact fines.<\/p>\n

The AFL umpires association boss Rob Kerr hit out at the sanctions. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been discussing and debating player contact with umps over the past two seasons,\u201d Kerr told 7NEWS in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was in January when we were told of the revisions to the MRO guidelines that we expressed the view they were deficient for heavy contact or avoidable contact.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pies players Jordan De Goey, Harry Perryman and Billy Frampton all received at least one fine, while Suns rivals Mac Andrew, Zeke Uwland, Nick Holman, Noah Anderson, Joel Jeffrey, Bailey Humphrey, Sam Collins and Wil Powell also took a hit to the hip pocket.<\/p>\n

The AFL has taken a dim view of intentional contact with umpires, headlined by GWS captain Toby Greene copping a six-match ban in 2021 for brushing past an umpire who was trying to talk to him.<\/p>\n

Gold Coast already received a $20,000 fine last month for tallying five umpire contact incidents this season, with Miller\u2019s sanction bringing the tally to six.<\/p>\n

Collingwood are now at risk of their own $20,000 fine as Maynard becomes their fifth such charge of the year.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Umpire in firing line as tensions explode during wild brawl<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

AFL delivers Maynard verdict after fiery half-time melee<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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