Magpie Maynard plays down smother that KO'd Brayshaw

The midfielder was concussed when, with Collingwood leading 2.0 (12) to 0.0 (0), he burst forward and kicked inside 50.

Maynard jumped forward in an attempted smother and collected Brayshaw high with his shoulder.

Brayshaw was immediately out cold and required lengthy attention on the field before leaving the field on a stretcher and in a neck brace.

The on-field umpire could be heard on the broadcast saying Maynard was reported for the high contact, while Brayshaw's teammate Bayley Fritsch kicked a goal from the subsequent downfield free kick.

"I don't want to say too much, but it's a footy act," Maynard told the Seven Network.

"I came forward, I jumped to smother the ball and yeah, unfortunately I just got him on the way down. 

"So I don't know. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

"But it's all love. I absolutely love that guy to bits. So yeah, it's shattering what happened."

Melbourne forward Jacob van Rooyen could also come under scrutiny for a high elbow on Magpies forward Dan McStay later in the first quarter.

McStay went off for a concussion test but returned to the field.

The 27-year-old Brayshaw has a lengthy concussion history from earlier in his career and wears headgear.

Brayshaw gave the crowd a thumbs up as he was taken off and was up and about in the Melbourne rooms at half-time talking to his teammates.

Melbourne vice-captain Jack Viney made a point of getting in Maynard's face after the incident, pushing and shoving the defender and causing a brief scuffle.

Maynard was also booed by Melbourne fans whenever he came to the bench.

But the combative Magpie wasn't rattled and played out the game in his typically intense fashion as Collingwood's defence stood tall to book their spot in the preliminary final.

"It is stressful but you've sort of got to move on. It's a bloody intense game. It requires a lot mentally and also physically," Maynard said.

"That's why we're built for this, it's finals."