IF NOT for a few more games from his dad, Brayden Maynard might have been Adelaide's first father-son draftee.
PeterMaynard played eight games for Melbourne in the 1980s before shiftingto Glenelg in South Australia, where he played 196 games and wasinducted as a Hall of Famer. Had he played four more, his son would havebeen eligible to join the Crows.
Adelaide might still draft Maynard after an impressive 2014 season, but won't get priority access to him ahead of their rivals.
After13 games for the Sandringham Dragons last season, Maynard stepped uphis tilt at the draft this year with 17 games for the club and three aspart of Vic Metro's NAB AFL Under-18 squad.
Maynard'sfootball bloodlines extend further than his dad, with his grandfather,Graham Campbell, a former coach and player at Fitzroy.
A left-footer who has a powerful and precise kick, Maynardspent most of his season as a rebounding half-back. It was there that heproved himself a big-bodied brute who can stop his opponent whilegiving important drive.
He likes to tackle (heaveraged six a game through the season) and is ultra-competitive: heattacks the ball and contest with ferocity, and isn't afraid of bodycontact. He puts everything on the line, and it's easy to see howsupporters will warm to him.
Late in theseason that toughness was on display as a midfielder, having shifted upthe ground for the Dragons in the absence of injured skipper AngusBrayshaw.
Maynard (186cm, 88kg) played therole perfectly, using his speed (he's tested 2.98 seconds over 20metres), poise and foot skills to make a difference with the ball, andhis contested ball-winning ability to rip it out of packs.
Inthe last two finals for the Dragons he averaged 25 disposals and 11handball receives, showing a step up in his ability to cover the ground.Across the season for the Dragons he averaged 22 disposals.
Maynard's running capacity is probably the main concern forhim, and a reason he wasn't pushed into the midfield until later in theseason.
At the national combine he ran a 13.3beep test, and 11:13 for the three-kilometre time trial. If he can liftthose numbers up a few notches he'll be able to compete for longer andlonger.
Positioned off half-back and with a courageous and combativeattitude, Maynard has a similar style to first-year North Melbournedefender Luke McDonald.
He's probably moreoutward in his approach than McDonald but both can move into themidfield and float forward to use their penetrating left side.
Maynard is likely to feature in the 14-30 part of the draft as a first or second-round selection.
Maynard has a clear point of difference in the way he impacts agame. He's a tough, physical player who loves to throw his body aroundand anyone in the way. Competitive and with an aggressive streak, itmeans he's permanently involved.
