AFL star in ‘serious assault’
A prominent Australian lawyer has suggested police should investigate charging West Coast Eagles AFL star Andrew Gaff for assault after his swinging left hook left Fremantle youngster Andrew Brayshaw with a broken jaw and three displaced teeth.
Brayshaw won’t be able to eat solid food for the next four weeks after undergoing surgery on Sunday night to repair his jaw and three lower teeth, which were put back into place and splinted.
The 18-year-old has been ruled out for the remainder of the AFL season and is at home recovering with his parents.
The unprovoked punch from Gaff drew widespread criticism and the Eagles midfielder is set to be suspended for at least five weeks.
Gaff was one of the favourites to claim the Brownlow Medal before a moment of madness in Sunday’s derby at Perth Stadium almost certainly ended his season and hopes of being crowned with the sport’s highest individual honour.
The Eagles’ free agent, who has been weighing up whether to head home to a Victorian club next season, was devastated by his actions and has apologised.
But David Galbally, QC, one of Melbourne’s most respected legal authorities, said Western Australian police could get involved for what he said was an ‘‘appalling’’ incident which sent Brayshaw immediately to hospital.
‘‘Looking at it, it’s a very serious assault. If you were just on the street and committed something like that, a judge would look at putting you in [jail]. You would really run the risk of either getting a suspended sentence or getting a small stint,’’ he said.