Maynard, Miller and Long learn fates as 21 players fined for wild brawl

Brayden Maynard and Touk Miller have avoided suspension for making contact with an umpire during Collingwood's clash with Gold Coast Suns on Saturday while Ben Long has copped a two-match suspension.

The game descended into chaos at half-time after Long had floored Maynard leaving him with suspected broken ribs.

That strike sparked a massive brawl which continued after the mid-way break.

When he got up from the ground the Pies vice-captain made a bee line for Long but in getting to the Suns player he put both hands on the umpire as did Miller.

A total of 21 players have been sanctioned for the fight at People First Stadium with Maynard fined three times for his actions during the game while his teammates Jordan de Goey, Billy Frampton and Harry Perryman copped two fines each.

In the aftermath of the match, many called for an extended suspension for both Maynard and Miller citing Toby Greene's mammoth ban from umpire contact in 2021, but the MRO ruled the duo's actions as "Engaging in Any Other Act of Misconduct".

"Maynard and Miller have both been charged with "Engaging in Any Other Act of Misconduct" per the table of Fixed Financial Offences in Appendix 1 to the AFL Regulations. The sanction for such an offence is at the absolute discretion of the Match Review Officer, who has determined a $5,000 fine is payable by both players, with no reduction available for an early guilty plea," the AFL said in a statement.

"The Match Review Officer has determined that these are not matters that constitute the Direct Tribunal Offence of “Intentional Contact with an Umpire”. Further, the Match Review Officer has also determined that these are not matters that constitute the Fixed Financial Offence of “Unreasonable or Unnecessary Contact with an Umpire” or “Careless Contact with an Umpire”, in particular as the prescribed sanction for that Fixed Financial Offence is inadequate in all the circumstances and does not reflect their seriousness.

"The AFL will make no further comment on these matters pending the finalisation of them, noting the charges may be challenged at the AFL Tribunal by Maynard and or Miller."

Fines issued from that one match have totalled $41,500 assuming they are all accepted.

Why is the he there? Cooney calls out ump in Maynard-Long fight

There is far too much hysteria over Brayden Maynard making contact with the umpire during Collingwood’s victory over the Suns, according to Adam Cooney who says it’s a $1,500 fine and move on.

Amid calls for the Pies vice-captain to be sidelined for up to a month, Cooney questioned why umpire Nick Brown injected himself into the fight that erupted on the half-time siren.

Tempers flared shortly before the break after Ben Long dropped a shoulder into Maynard’s side – a clash the Pies star claims left him with broken ribs.

The hit sparked numerous players into a melee which developed into an all-in fight after the siren.

Vision of the confrontation shows Maynard running straight for Long and pushing Brown out of harms way to get to the Suns player.

With opinions divided, Cooney was adamant Maynard should not face a ban similar to the six match suspension dished out to Toby Greene in 2021 for a far more serious umpire contact.

“It’ll be over $100k in fines by the end of it,” Cooney said on SEN's Crunch Time. “There was nothing too serious but it’s the cheap shot from Long that boiled things over.

“Long came in behind Maynard and I think he will be in some strife for that. Maynard thinks he’s got a broken rib and so if that’s the case, it’s two weeks ban minimum.

“With the Maynard umpire contact, it is different. First of all, why is the umpire getting that close? Get out of the way. He is trying to break up the fight.

“Use your voice and say ‘save your money’. Get out of the way of players in the heat of battle.

“If that’s happening, get out of the action. Maynard has no intent to touch the umpire. He wants Long.

“Someone pushed Maynard and he brushed the umpire. Some people are saying four weeks for this; it’s careless and someone pushed him, the umpire should not be there.

“Give Maynard a $1500 fine and move on. There's hysteria about this one. I know we want to protect umpires, but this is so different to the Toby Greene one.

“This is Maynard having tunnel vision for a player. In my opinion, he (umpire) shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

“Imagine missing a month of footy for brushing passed an umpire.”

Gold Coast vice-captain Touk Miller will also no doubt be under scrutiny as he also made contact with Brown.

“It could be the dumbest thing we’ve seen for the year,” North Melbourne great and SEN Fireball host David King said on Fox.

“The umpires are a no-go zone. This is irresponsible, and it’s a month for me.”

When asked for his thoughts on the fight and subsequent umpire contact, Collingwood coach Craig McRae said: "I'm not aware of how long it went for, but I don't know what the AFL do with that. I'm sure they'll be looking at it all.

"I wasn't happy with the guy getting hit off the ball, I'm not sure that's something we'd love every week."