BRAYDEN Maynard has locked in a new four-year deal at Collingwood, with the premiership Pie saying he was "too loyal" to truly consider any rival bids. 

His new deal locks him in at the Magpies until the end of 2029, when the premiership Pie will be 33, with Maynard knocking back interest from North Melbourne and fellow rival clubs. Gettable reported last month the deal is worth around $3.3 million. 

The unrestricted free agent has been in contract talks over recent months, but on Thursday confirmed his future was with the Pies as Collingwood tied up one of its most important players. He said after letting the season begin before getting to contract talks, a recent meeting with agent Tom Petroro had settled where he wanted to be.  

"I thought let's be honest, lets cut to the chase. There are conversations you have to have along the way with your manager and your family and you do get put in situations where you have to make some calls, but deep, deep, deep, deep down I knew that Collingwood was my home and was forever going to be my home," Maynard told AFL.com.au.

"It's all part of the process. Teams, when you're in this situation, come and ask you questions and see what you're going to be doing. I think I knew from day dot that I was never going to be leaving, it was just a few conversations that took a while to be able to negotiate what I wanted and however many years. I'm actually really happy and super stoked it's all done. 

"Tommy and I went out for lunch and he said, 'What do you actually want to do?' I said, 'I don’t want to leave, so let's see what we can do'. So, it's thanks to all the other teams who had approached and asked questions, but Collingwood was my home and was going to be my home for however long."

As an unrestricted free agent Maynard was an appealing option for clubs chasing extra strength, experience and muscle for their backlines, with the 219-gamer on the radar of the Kangaroos. He said he was flattered by the interest and has links at the club, where his brother Corey is the team's player development manager, but that he was solely focused on a new deal with the Magpies. 

"I didn't meet with any other clubs. I don't think I could've because I'm too loyal and everyone knows that. Collingwood probably always had that up their sleeve," he said.

"I never met any other clubs, but clubs were asking the question and told us to keep them in the loop. The conversation with Tom was just like 'Let's just get it done with Collingwood' because I knew this was the place I wanted to be at.

"There were a few other teams, but North was probably the heavy hitter that came across and were the most interested, and I've got my brother there so there's a few family ties there. I really enjoy watching North play, I love who they've got in their roles and coaching staff and head of fitness and have a few connections there with mates as well. The conversations happen and North was the main team that showed most interest."

Maynard and fellow Pies vice-captain Nick Daicos have stepped up as the club's stand-in skippers this season when Darcy Moore missed through injury, with Maynard saying it was second only to the club's 2023 premiership triumph in his footballing best-of moments.

"The biggest highlight was clearly winning the Grand Final and premiership, but being able to captain the side for a couple of games here and there and leading them out on the MCG was a massive highlight and something I'll cherish forever," he said.  

The 28-year-old has missed the Magpies' past two games after having a procedure to fix his plantar fascia foot injury that he had carried over the 2024-25 seasons, but is eyeing a return against St Kilda in round 15 after Collingwood's bye. 

"It's quite funny because I have literally no pain in my foot now and it's been lingering for 18 months. Those who have had plantar fasciitis would know what I'm talking about, but every morning I'd get out of bed and I wouldn't be able to walk properly and I'd have to slowly warm up and sometimes I'd have to hold onto the side of my bed and literally hop to the bathroom to have my shower," he said. 

"I had no idea how it would go away, but patience is a virtue and every day coming into the club I strengthened my foot muscles. It's funny because you spend all that time doing it for then it to snap for the pain to go away. That Robert Harvey story – for him to get up on a table and jump off to snap it himself – makes complete sense now. It didn't when I was going through the pain."

With Maynard now signed, the Pies will turn their attention to other veteran calls, with Jamie Elliott, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom among the players unsigned beyond the season and in brilliant form. 

"I didn't realise how many players were out of contract, so 'Leppa' (Pies list boss Justin Leppitsch) is going to be a busy man. I'll tell you what, including the more experienced boys, are playing some career-best footy and I don't think any of them want them to go anywhere," Maynard said.

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