‘No-one wanted him gone’: Pie speaks on flag teammate’s exit; out-of-favour Hawk opens up as rivals circle — AFL Daily

Collingwood’s vice-captain has questioned a star’s exit.

Plus an out-of-favour Hawk has spoken as rival clubs circle... and is there any truth to a rumour on the return of hubs? MORE IN AFL DAILY.

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MAYNARD QUESTIONS MIHOCEK’S DEPARTURE

Collingwood vice-captain Brayden Maynard has questioned the decision to let Brody Mihocek leave for Melbourne, saying “no one wanted him gone.”

It crucially comes as Craig McRae’s side has struggled up forward in 2026, with the club ranked bottom five in the AFL in scoring and with no Magpies averaging two goals per game.

As Collingwood tries to get its forward line firing, Mihocek, who led the club’s goalkicking from 2019 to 2023, has bagged five majors from three games — which would be the equal-most at the Magpies.

According to reports, Collingwood only offered Mihocek a one-year extension, whereas Melbourne tabled a two-season deal.

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Mason Cox also left the Pies in the off-season, while Jack Buller, who was brought in to replenish those forward stocks, was dropped to the VFL after two games.

Maynard admits it was tough to see premiership teammate Mihocek depart, particularly given Collingwood’s offensive issues.

“We obviously got rid of a five-time leading goalkicker in ‘Checkers’,” Maynard told the Herald Sun.

“No-one wanted him gone, I don’t know what happened there, but anyway. Then Coxy (Mason Cox) went (to Fremantle) and we had to figure out a way to score and we do have boys down there that can score.

“I do miss him a lot, I had a really good relationship with ‘Checkers’, a real unique one. I love him very much, so did everyone. But that is football, that is the industry we live in and he is doing really well at Melbourne and it’s good to see.”

DEAR DOWNPLAYS SLOW START TO 2026

Calsher Dear says he’s unfazed about starting the 2026 season outside Hawthorn’s senior team as rivals circle the young forward.

Back stress fractures hindered Dear, 20, before Christmas and limited his pre-season.

He’s now fallen down the pecking order in Sam Mitchell’s side, sitting behind Jack Gunston, Mitch Lewis and Mabior Chol in the club’s key forward stocks, while even draftee Aidan Schubert has been listed as an emergency ahead of Dear.

Rivals have clearly taken notice that Dear is out of favour, with a report stating clubs are keeping tabs on him.

But Dear, who burst onto the scene by playing 17 of his 26 AFL games in his first season, downplayed his slow start to 2026 and recognised he’s still early in his career.

“If you look at how I started my career, I was extremely lucky and had a really good opportunity,” he said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“In my first year I played 17 games and 10 last year. There’s not a lot of players who get that lucky or have that sort of opportunity.

“I’m not really stressing about it. I haven’t started in the side (previously), the earliest I’ve ever played was Round 8.

“So I’m just doing my time, I’m still developing, still getting better. But I think it’s a pretty good problem to have.

“It’s not just me that is fighting for a spot. There’s so many players that play alongside me at Box Hill that are AFL ready and AFL level, but we’ve just got such a deep list that you’ve got to wait your turn and make most of the opportunity when it comes.”

HUBS REPORTEDLY NOT ON THE AGENDA

The return of hubs reportedly isn’t on the agenda after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s address to the nation.

That came in response to the skyrocketing cost of living and fuel prices due to supply disruptions as a result of global conflicts.

But while you can rule out hubs, the AFL is believed to be exploring ways to help fans get to games for a lower cast.

“The AFL is adamant they are not discussing hubs, it hasn’t been discussed at any executive level,” Seven’s Mitch Cleary said on Agenda Setters.

“But what they are looking at is ways they can subsidise and help fans get to and from games as early as Gather Round.

“Everything’s on the table — memberships coming with fuel discounts, or ways they can help fans with carpools and buses to get to and from games. Everything is on the table here.

“That is what the AFL is working with the clubs on, rather than any sort of hub discussion right now.”

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