Had his father played just four more SANFL games back in the 1980s, Brayden Maynard’s AFL path would have been much different.

The 18-year-old admits to having thought about his family’s version of sliding doors ahead of the national draft, where Collingwood recruited him with pick No.30.

But Brayden quickly realised that was a pointless exercise.

Instead, Maynard is rapt to have joined a strong club with a young list, where he will soon have ample chances to prove himself at senior level.

Maynard’s father Peter played eight games for Melbourne before he went to SANFL team Glenelg.

Peter played in the SA Tigers’ most recent premiership teams in 1985-86 and is a member of their Hall Of Fame.

Maynard senior’s SANFL career ended on 196 games in 1990.

Under AFL rules, had he reached 200, his son would have been eligible to become Adelaide’s first father-son recruit.

“I’ve definitely thought about it – leading into the draft, I was thinking about it a bit,” Brayden said.

“But as soon I was named by Collingwood, I didn’t really worry about it.

“I realised I can’t do anything about it, I can’t control it.

“Being at Collingwood is such a privilege.”

Brayden added that how he joined an AFL club mattered to him a lot less than having the chance of a senior career.

“Going No.1 or going No.100, it doesn’t mean anything to me,” he said.

“It’s just a number and everyone gets the same opportunity.

“So No.30 is fine – I’m happy with that.

“At least I got the opportunity.”

The two Maynards are very different players – while Peter was renowned for his pace, Brayden is better known for his contested work.

“I definitely have been shown some of his games – he’s sat me down on the couch before and told me to watch them,” Brayden said of his dad.

“He was very quick and fit.

“I don’t think I’m that fit at the moment, but being in such a good program, I think I will be able to build that fitness up.

“If I could build my fitness to what he (had), I’d be a very good player.”