Brutal blow counts Gaff out for season
WEST Coast star Andrew Gaff will miss the rest of the season after he was slapped with an eight- match ban by the AFL tribunal for breaking young Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw’s jaw.
David Grace QC, representing the Eagles midfielder, entered a guilty plea early in the two- hour hearing at Etihad Stadium.
He then presented a case for leniency that included a long list of character references and a contrite Gaff giving evidence that he didn’t mean to hit Brayshaw in the head.
Jeff Gleeson QC, representing the AFL, described the incident as a “historically significant event” and recommended a suspension between eight and 12 matches. The jury of Wayne Henwood, David Neitz and Shane Wakelin handed down the lengthy suspension after 13 minutes of deliberation.
Gaff will now miss the rest of West Coast’s premiership campaign and the start of the 2019 season.
How many games he misses next year will depend on how deep the Eagles go into the finals.
“First of all, I just want to say that I’m so, so sorry to Andrew and the Brayshaw family for the pain I’ve caused them,” an emotional Gaff said as he left the hearing.
“I’m really disappointed. I own my actions, and it really hurts a lot.
“The last 48 hours have probably been the toughest couple of days of my life ... the people that I’ve spoken to and who have seen me in that time know the world of pain I’m in and how much I’m suffering.
“I see myself as a caring, gentle and measured person and that’s why it’s disappointing so much more.
“I’m disappointed for Andrew, I’m disappointed in myself, I’m disappointed I let my teammates down at an important time of the year and I’m disappointed I’ve let the supporters down as well.”
Earlier in the day, Angus Brayshaw said his younger brother was the victim of an “assault” that could have Gaff in jail. But the pair may yet become teammates, with Melbourne co- captain Nathan Jones confident relationships will be repaired if AFL free agent Gaff lands at the Demons next season.
The elder Brayshaw, who recently signed a four- year contract extension with the Demons, said the family had no intention to pursue criminal charges against Gaff.
But he expressed the incident.
“If this has happened at a nightclub or on the streets, it’s an assault,” Brayshaw told an AFL website podcast yesterday.
“You’re probably getting jailed for something like this, I would imagine ... I just can’t believe honestly that it’s happened.” outrage about