West Coast Eagles midfielder Andrew Gaff has been handed an eight-match suspension by the AFL Tribunal after pleading guilty to intentionally striking Fremantle Dockers player Andrew Brayshaw during a match on Sunday. The ban, equal to the longest in AFL history, has sparked debate among fans and players over its severity.
Gaff's punch left 18-year-old Brayshaw with a broken jaw and teeth 'hinged backwards a couple of centimetres into his mouth', according to medical reports. Brayshaw will require dental implants and may face months of recovery, including possible root canal therapy.
At the tribunal hearing in Melbourne on Tuesday night, Gaff, supported by his father Paul, admitted the offence. Fighting back tears, he apologised to Brayshaw and his family, saying: 'I see myself as a caring, gentle and measured person. I am disappointed in myself.'
The suspension has divided opinion. Some, like Hawthorn defender James Sicily, called it 'stiff', while others argued it was appropriate for 'one of the worst acts seen on a footy field'. Gaff will miss the remainder of the 2018 season and likely at least two games next year.
