He’s uncompromising, honest and ready for a bigger role in Collingwood’s starting 22.



Now Brayden Maynard has the security of knowing he’ll be wearing Black and White until at least the end of the 2020 season.



The 21-year-old has signed a two-year contract extension to take effect after what will be his fourth season at the Holden Centre.



“We are rapt to have Brayden extend his contract with the club through to 2020,” Collingwood list manager Ned Guy said on Monday.



“With over 50 games under his belt, I’m confident Brayden is only just beginning to help drive the high standards this playing group will take into next season and beyond.”



Maynard’s steady progression through the Magpie ranks has been one filled with promise over the last three years. He showed glimpses in 2015, became a staple in the team a year later and fully established himself as a star of the future in the year following.



Used primarily as a defender in many of his 51 games, the former Sandringham Dragon was thrown into the midfield in Collingwood’s final game of the 2017 season against Melbourne. It paid dividends, with Maynard collecting 23 disposals and having a career-high five clearances in an upset 16-point victory.



The move into the middle encouraged him to pursue further opportunities on the ball.



“I’d love to play midfield all year,” he told Collingwood Media in November.



“My goal for this off-season is to build my tank up. I’ve got to run with one of the older blokes who has been in the midfield for quite a while and follow them and keep up with them.”



WATCH: Maynard the midfielder? Find out more on Episode 1 of #TheGrind.



According to Guy, who assumed the position of Collingwood list manager in October, running with the likes of Scott Pendlebury, Adam Treloar and Steele Sidebottom may extend beyond the tracking track and into the season proper.



“Brayden's hard work both on and off-field will see him spending more time through the midfield in 2018," he said.



With a new contract secured, 2018 is now just the beginning for Maynard’s next chapter at Collingwood. He also has become the seventh player to sign on to a deal until 2020 or beyond.



Pendlebury, Brodie Grundy, Mason Cox and Chris Mayne are contracted until 2020, while Treloar and Sidebottom are locked in until the end of 2021.



