Brayden Maynard was seen sharing a tender moment with his girlfriend Ashlee on Sunday, as he marked his 200th AFL game with mixed emotions following the recent loss of a close friend. Collingwood achieved their second-largest comeback in club history, overcoming a 54-point deficit to defeat North Melbourne 18.11 (119) to 19.4 (118), moving into the top four. This remarkable victory was especially meaningful as it coincided with Maynard’s milestone game. Known for his polarizing presence among rival AFL clubs, Maynard displayed his softer side after the match by warmly embracing his girlfriend in celebration.
Ashlee shared a video on social media, captioning it: “There’s no other journey I would rather be in the passenger seat for. 200 games, next to you, proud of you.”
However, Maynard’s celebration was tinged with sadness as he revealed in a post-game interview that he had recently lost a close friend. “I absolutely love this club, I love these boys,” he said, holding back tears. “I’m getting a little bit emotional because it’s been a big couple of weeks for me. I’ve had a good mate of mine pass away due to mental health issues.”
He continued, “So, Deb, Amy, and Bomber, if you’re watching this, my heart goes out to you and all your family. Much love from the Collingwood family and the whole AFL community, we’re sending you all our love, endless amounts of hugs every day. It’s more than a game, it’s more than just 200 games for the black and white. I do this for my family, my friends, the entire Collingwood supporter base, and these boys here and the coaching staff. I’m really emotional and just want to get in there now and celebrate with the boys.”
Collingwood coach Craig McRae revealed after last week’s win over Melbourne that Maynard was going through a tough time. The tragic death of his friend occurred in the same week that Maynard was preparing to face the Demons for the first time since his controversial hit on Angus Brayshaw last year, which ended Brayshaw’s career.
“He’s had a lot going on this week – I won’t share the details – but off the field, it’s been really hard for him,” McRae said last Monday. “So, I’m sure he wanted to put on a good performance given what’s happened outside of here. He’s a proud man and he played exceptionally well. We love him. It’s unfortunate what’s happened in his private life, but I will leave it at that.”
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