Brother hits out on AFL punch

DISTRESSED Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw has poured out his heart about the “grim” situation younger brother Andrew finds himself in after having had his face “absolutely ruined” by West Coast’s Andrew Gaff.

Speaking to the AFL Exchange Podcast yesterday, hours before Gaff’s tribunal hearing, an emotional Brayshaw said his brother was “battling” with his teeth and a “sizeable chunk of his lip”.

“I think the biggest thing, if this has happened at a nightclub or on the streets, it’s assault,” Brayshaw said.

“I’m not a lawyer or anything like that … but you could probably get in jail for something like this I’d imagine.

“I can’t believe honestly that’s happened, and people say ‘oh he (Gaff) would never do anything like this’. Character references are a thing, I know, in the tribunal but the fact of the matter is he’s squared up to him, as far as I could see, he’s looking at him, and then just absolutely ruined Andrew’s mouth with his fist.

“He’s an 18 year-old-kid and there’s no way Andrew would have done anything to warrant, I don’t think anyone would warrant a punch in the face like that, but least of all Andrew, who’s just the most nice, respectful, kind kid, he’s a first-year player … it’s such a grim thing to have happened.”

Brayshaw heard of the incident after Melbourne’s win over Gold Coast last Sunday.

He pored over footage of his younger brother’s plight for hours and kept in close contact with his parents, Mark and Debra, who were in Perth.

“It was a pretty grim night, it’s not one I’ll look back on too fondly,” Brayshaw said.

“It’s a terrible thing that he’s had to go through. His health’s at the forefront, not just my mind but everyone’s, thinking about how he’s going to be going long term, it’s a pretty grim outlook at the moment but he’ll be right.

“Mum is definitely upset but I feel like it’s probably better she’s there with him.”