Gaff faces lengthy ban

ANDREW Gaff’s ugly punch on Docker Andrew Brayshaw has been graded in the most severe category with the match review officer declaring the league takes punching “very, very seriously”.

The Eagle is believed to be travelling to Melbourne to face the AFL tribunal tonight in person after his strike was last night classified as intentional, severe impact and to the head.

Brayshaw was left with a broken jaw and required three displaced teeth to be splinted. He will not be able to eat solid food for a month.

But match review officer Michael Christian stopped short of calling it the crudest hit he had been judged.