Sad News: Collingwood fear the worst as Surgery set to delay star’s plans

The 27-year-old underwent a similar procedure last year.

Premiership Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard has undergone shoulder surgery for the second time in as many years, with the star Magpie potentially missing contact training until February.

The Pies vice-captain underwent surgery on a hampered left shoulder at the conclusion of an All-Australian campaign last year that helped him prepare for a full 2023 season where he would end up playing 25 matches and featuring in the club’s grand final win.

The long season has left Collingwood and Maynard to come to the decision to assess and fix a complaint with his other shoulder this year, with the 27-year-old going under the knife in the past week.

The surgery is set to see Maynard’s pre-season plans delayed until the new year, with a return to full training potentially not coming until the month before the 2024 season starts.

As revealed by 7 News, Maynard is still expected to play Round 1 next year following the recent procedure.

“Collingwood’s premiership vice-captain Brayden Maynard won’t be back in full training until early next year,” reporter Andrew McCormack disclosed on Thursday night.

“A delayed decision to go under the knife will cut into his pre-season even more. Maynard underwent shoulder surgery on his right shoulder in the past week, he had a left shoulder reconstruction at the end of last year.

“He’s looking at non-contact training until January or February. It’ll be tight, but he is expected to play in Round 1 if all goes well.”

The Magpies are one of eight clubs set to compete in the newly-introduced ‘Opening Round’ next season, which will see the reigning premiers have the second shortest turnaround of any club behind fellow grand finalists Brisbane.

Collingwood are scheduled to face GWS at Giants Stadium on Saturday, March 9 to open their premiership defence, before returning to Melbourne to host Sydney at the MCG the following Friday night.

SSP state of play: Four names in mix for Collingwood list spots as ex-AFL figures look for lifelines

The SSP signing window is open, with a number of clubs set to be active in adding to their list.

Collingwood, Gold Coast and Fremantle are set to be among the most active clubs through the Supplemental Selection Period, which opened on Monday and has already seen three signings made.

The SSP is used over the course of the pre-season to allow clubs to give AFL-hopeful talent a chance to trial themselves for a vacant list spot at training during the summer period.

Last year’s window saw a total of 16 SSP signings made, with the likes of Conor McKenna and Darragh Joyce (both Brisbane), Mark Keane and Tyler Brown (both Adelaide), Liam Stocker (St Kilda), Jed Anderson (Gold Coast), Liam Shiels (North Melbourne), Oskar Baker (Western Bulldogs) and premiership Magpie Oleg Markov (Collingwood) all earn lifelines at new clubs.

Mature-aged recruit Alex Cincotta and Anthony Caminiti also earned chances in the top flight via Carlton and St Kilda respectively, with more opportunities set to be on offer to players from the state league and local levels ahead of the 2024 season.

VAFA footballer Sam Sofronidis has a live chance to earn a list spot with reigning premiers Collingwood after it was revealed the 23-year-old will be one of several prospects in contention for a vacant list spot at Olympic Park.

The medium-sized defender is set to train under coach Craig McRae alongside a number of fellow list aspirants, including ex-AFL list pair Brynn Teakle and Jack Bytel.

AFL.com.au has revealed former Port Adelaide ruckman Brynn Teakle and ex-St Kilda onballer Jack Bytel will also train with the Magpies after their respective delistings this year.

Teakle could fill a role across all three lines of the field after being recruited to the Power midway through last year as a ruck-forward hybrid, while he was also trialled as a defender in the SANFL earlier this year.

Bytel played 22 games over five seasons with the Saints, amassing just six appearances this year after falling out of favour under Ross Lyon. The 23-year-old could be a viable depth option for the Magpies following the loss of Taylor Adams through the recent trade period.

Collingwood VFL captain Campbell Hustwaite is a fourth player who will train with the senior list over pre-season following a strong campaign with the Magpies’ reserves.

Delisted defender Will Kelly has been flagged as a chance to earn a lifeline in the black and white following his recent delisting, with the club weighing up whether to re-sign the 23-year-old defender, who could have competition from Sofronidis.

With two training spots available for each list vacancy, Collingwood can have up to six training additions at once given they have a trio of openings on their rookie list.

Fremantle have recently opened up a pair of list spots after moving Sebit Kuek and Josh Corbett to the inactive list due to respective shoulder/knee and hip injuries.

The list move has already seen cut Sun’s flanker Jeremy Sharp earn a second chance in the AFL with the Dockers, who had expressed an interest in the East Fremantle product last year.

Former Essendon forward Patrick Voss is also said to be a chance of training with Fremantle for the other list spot, while Woodville-West Torrens teenager Max Beattie is another name in consideration.

AFL.com.au have reported that local forward Sam van Rooyen – the younger brother of Demons tall Jacob – will commence a trial stint with Fremantle this week.

After wanting to add to their attacking options through the recent National Draft, Voss (194cm), van Rooyen (193cm) and Beattie (173cm) will give Justin Longmuir and his team differing options for their forward mix.

Gold Coast has handed multiple ex-AFL figures trials for list spots at Carrara, with ex-Saint Jack Peris and delisted North Melbourne backman Aiden Bonar both set to train under new coach Damien Hardwick over the coming weeks, with the Suns having two free list spots

Peris was cut by the Saints after two years and one game in the red, white and black, with the Northern Territory junior looking to earn a new chance with the Suns, while Bonar could land at his third club after recent stints with the Giants and Roos.

A big-bodied defender, Bonar could add to Hardwick’s defensive options, while Peris is another name to consider among the Suns’ small forward stocks.

Peris’ old club had planned to bring on delisted wingman Dan McKenzie before “unanticipated” draft plans forced them to bid farewell to the 27-year-old.

After a year riddled with injuries, McKenzie was set to train for a list spot over the summer after initially not being offered a deal for 2024. The Saints added five players through last week’s National Draft before selecting ex-Port Adelaide backman Riley Bonner at the Pre-Season Draft.

While McKenzie’s hopes of re-joining his old club have waned, Melbourne have made a similar move by adding former defender Marty Hore to their list.

Hore last played for the Demons in 2019 and was delisted by the club two years ago, with the defender having since represented North Melbourne and Williamstown in the VFL.

The 27-year-old has trained with the Roos’ senior squad ahead of the 2022 season in the hope of landing a free list spot before being overlooked. He ventured to the Seagulls ahead of this year and went on to earn Team of the Year honours alongside Williamstown teammate and ex-Demons tall Oscar McDonald.

McDonald has since earned a new chance in the AFL via delisted free agency with Fremantle, with Hore becoming the second Seagull to do so after being the first SSP signing ahead of the 2024 season.

The Western Bulldogs made the third signing on Monday, acquiring recently delisted Hawthorn half-back Lachie Bramble.

Bramble joined the Hawks as an SSP signing ahead of the 2021 season and has joined the Dogs through the same mechanism, with the former Williamstown talent starting training at Whitten Oval on Monday.

The SSP opens on November 27 and will run across two signing windows, closing on December 14 before opening again on January 15. The final signing deadline will come on February 19.