Brayden Maynard never wanted to be one of the AFL's villains.
But while his teammates still love him and Collingwood keep winning, it's a persona the Magpies hardman is happy to embrace.
Maynard will line up for his 200th game against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday having established himself as one of the AFL's most uncompromising defenders.
He's a Magpie favourite - and an opposition fan's nightmare.
"I don't really like being hated by the other fans. But I can see why they do hate me," a bashful Maynard said on Wednesday.
"But I promise I'm a good guy, a great guy.
"The only thing that really matters to me is what my teammates and the club thinks of me and I know within the four walls that I think I've got a great amount of respect and I love everyone in this club.
"So that's all that matters to me. I don't really pay attention to any of the outside noise.
"The guys that I run out with every week are the guys I play for and they play for me as well."
Maynard became public enemy No.1 for Melbourne fans after his collision with Angus Brayshaw in last year's qualifying final that knocked out the popular Demon and ultimately ended his career.
He faced the Demons for the first time since on King's Birthday and was superb.
While he received less heat from Demons players than he expected, Maynard's every possession greeted by a chorus of boos by Melbourne fans - soon drowned out by cheers from their Collingwood counterparts.
"There was a bit of a build-up. I actually tried to stay off social media because I knew everything would pop up again," he said.
"So I did quite well in that sense.
"To get booed every time I got the ball but then the Magpie army to come over those boos and give a big cheer, it did mean a lot."
Maynard is adamant his off-field character and his on-field persona are two very different people.
His competitiveness came to the fore early on - when he realised school wasn't for him, footy was his "one-wood" and he had to give it everything.
"It's a bit of white-line fever. I do get pretty angry and pretty aggressive when I cross that white line, but that's just a part of who I am and I wouldn't want any other way," he said.
"And I don't think I'd be here today if I didn't have that balance between when I'm off the field relaxing, big, gentle giant, but then when I cross it I'm a different beast."
Maynard hopes Nick Daicos will be fit for his milestone game after suffering a corked shin against the Dees.
The gun midfielder didn't train on Wednesday and will have to prove his fitness later in the week to play.
"You'd have to ask him but I think he'd be right to get up," Maynard said.
"He's tough."
