Collingwood, Carlton sweating on critical AFL Tribunal hearings

Collingwood and Carlton fans face a nervous wait with two significant cases set to go before the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.

Magpies defender Brayden Maynard is facing a three-week ban for a contentious bump on Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw in last Thursday’s qualifying final.

The Match Review Officer declared that Maynard had no case to answer, but league heavyweights have opted to take the matter further in a bid to set a firm precedent.

Brayshaw was stretchered from the field and will miss Melbourne’s semifinal clash with Carlton, who will also be contesting charges this week.

Jack Martin was offered a two-match suspension for a swinging arm that took out Sydney star Nick Blakey in last Friday’s elimination final.

However, the Blues are challenging the case in a bid to ensure Martin – a key contributor in the win over the Swans – is available to face the Demons this Friday night.

While Maynard’s case has proved divisive, with many former AFL players insisting the contact with Brayshaw was incidental and in no way reckless, the Blues will face a much tougher task getting Martin off.

Online bookmakers have Carlton pegged as +121 outsiders this weekend, with Melbourne favoured at -149.25 to tee up a preliminary final date with the Brisbane Lions.

Collingwood, now +150 favourites to win the 2023 AFL Grand Final, will face either Port Adelaide or the GWS Giants on the penultimate weekend of the season.

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