Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has come under fire after a video of him celebrating Brayden Maynard’s dropped rough conduct charge was posted on Instagram.
On Tuesday night, Maynard was cleared of wrongdoing over his attempted smother that left Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw unconscious for two minutes during Collingwood’s qualifying final win.
Maynard had leapt into the air in an attempt to smother Brayshaw’s kick – an action the Magpies and others have defended as a “football act”. His shoulder collided with Brayshaw’s head, leaving the Demons midfielder knocked out.
Demons’ Angus Brayshaw left the field on a stretcher.
Maynard was charged with rough conduct and referred directly to the tribunal by the AFL match review officer, but was ultimately cleared.
Brayshaw will miss Melbourne’s semi-final against Carlton under concussion protocols, while Maynard is free to play in Collingwood’s preliminary final next week.
“Ladies and gentlemen, justice has been done,” McGuire said in the video.
“Brayden Maynard is free to play for the Pies.”
McGuire’s reaction has been widely labelled as off, including Anna Hay.
“This is more than football,” Hay told Clairsy & Lisa. “This is someone’s life”.
“Seeing Eddie’s celebration once Maynard had been cleared, it was distasteful.”
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Collingwood face Gold Coast this Sunday.
