AFL great Brad Hardie's bombshell claim that Brayden Maynard will request a trade out of Collingwood at season's end has been shot down by the Magpie's management.
Despite being under contract at Collingwood through 2022, Hardie declared on 6PR radio this week that Maynard "will be playing for the Melbourne Football Club next year".
NOW | #AFLDeesPies is LIVE on @6PR
In case you missed it earlier... Brad Hardie declared that Magpie Brayden Maynard will be a Demon in 2022.
"Brayden Maynard will be playing for the Melbourne Football Club next year"
Click to hear Brad's big call:https://t.co/LYlKe7ZQba
— 6PR Football (@6prfootball) June 14, 2021
Maynard's manager, Tom Petroro has since told Fox Footy there was absolutely no truth to Hardie's sensational claim, categorically ruling out the remark.
The flashy Magpies defender inked a new deal with Collingwood in July, 2019 on a two-year extension.
Off the back of a career-best season in 2020 where he was selected to the All-Australian squad of 40, Maynard is once again proving his worth as he played a key role in his side's inspirational victory over Melbourne on Queen's Birthday.
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With fellow defender Darcy Moore likely to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, Maynard's importance among the Pies' back six is even more immense.
In contract news at Collingwood, Mason Cox is one of 15 Magpies whose future at the club is in limbo, with the increasing likelihood being the American isn't offered a new deal at the Holden Centre past this season.
Cox, who hasn't appeared at AFL level since Round 4, "has nine weeks to save his AFL career at Collingwood", according to Mitch Cleary.
Kangaroos legend Wayne Carey urged his former side to consider pursuing the 211 cm forward/ruck -- a change of scenery perhaps being what Cox needs to resurrect his career.
