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Andrew Gaff cops heavy ban from AFL tribunal

West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff has been handed an eight-week ban by the AFL tribunal over his hit on Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw.

The decision was reached by jury Wayne Henwood, David Neitz and Shane Wakelin after just 13 minutes of deliberation following a hearing that lasted more than two hours at AFL House on Tuesday night.

The long suspension has ended Gaff’s 2018 season, with three home-and-away and a maximum of four finals games left for the top-two Eagles.

Gaff spoke to the media for more than a minute after the decision was handed down, choking up once as he addressed the ban:

“First of all, I just want to say I’m so, so sorry to Andrew and the Brayshaw family for the pain I’ve caused them over the last 48 hours. I respect the Brayshaw boys so much and the way they go about it. I’m really disappointed in my own actions and it really hurts a lot. The last 48 hours have probably been the toughest couple of days of my life. People who I’ve spoken to and who have seen me throughout the 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’ve let my teammates down at an important time of the year. I’m disappointed to let my supporters down as well. For the time being I’ll surround myself with my friends and family who care for me most. But once again, I just want to apologise wholeheartedly to Andrew. I hope he gets better soon.”

Gaff pleaded guilty to intentionally striking Brayshaw in Sunday night’s western derby, with the Dockers youngster undergoing surgery to repair his fractured jaw later that night.

Club doctor Ken Withers said Brayshaw is likely to require implants to replace the three teeth that were displaced by the punch.

A remorseful Gaff said he had attempted to hit Brayshaw in the head after being impeded by his opponent away from the ball.

Andrew Gaff has received a heavy ban for his hit on Andrew Brayshaw. Pic: Getty
Andrew Gaff has received a heavy ban for his hit on Andrew Brayshaw. Pic: Getty

“I feel sick that I got him in the face. I had no intention to hit him where I hit him,” he told the tribunal.

“I tried to do a similar hit to what I did 10 seconds earlier with my right arm.”

Gaff said he struggled to keep his mind on the game and added that he understood why he was targeted by Fremantle players in the aftermath.

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“I feel sick about how Andrew is feeling. I am so sorry for what has now happened to Andrew,” he said.

“I’m shattered, I never intended for this to happen. There was a time on the bench where you gather your thoughts a little bit more.

“I was heartbroken. The coach talked to me and tried to keep me focused on the rest of the game, but I was rattled.

“It was very hard to keep playing from that point on. I’ve always prided myself on playing the ball. I’m very disappointed for how it ended. I’m just so sorry for Andrew and how he’s feeling at the moment.”

The lengthy ban came after the AFL’s legal counsel Jeff Gleeson argued for 8-12 weeks, calling the incident a “historically significant event”.

“The strike was unrestrained in his execution, ferocious in its impact and grave in its consequences. It was a full-blooded punch,” he said.

Gaff will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, with a number of Melbourne-based clubs said to be interested in bringing him back to his home town.

HOW GAFF’S BAN COMPARES TO RECENT SUSPENSIONS

* JEREMY CAMERON – five games in 2018

Brisbane key defender Harris Andrews was hospitalised with bleeding on his brain after being floored by a swinging forearm from GWS forward Cameron. It was Cameron’s second direct referral to the tribunal – he also copped a four-game ban in 2016 for a bump that left Brisbane’s Rhys Mathieson with a fractured cheekbone.

* TOM BUGG – six games, 2017

A hefty ban was inevitable when Melbourne tagger Bugg dropped Sydney’s Callum Mills to the turf with an intentional left hook. Mills’ teammates labelled the incident a “dog act” and Bugg has since managed just three games for the Demons.

* BACHAR HOULI – four games, 2017

History was made when the AFL appealed against the two-game ban handed by the tribunal to Richmond defender Houli for striking Carlton’s Jed Lamb. The Tigers submitted character references from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and media personality Waleed Aly but the AFL Appeals Board took just 10 minutes to double the ban.

* TOM JONAS – six games, 2016

Ironically, it was West Coast’s Andrew Gaff on the receiving end of this brutal high bump from Port Adelaide backman Jonas. The hit received the most serious classification – intentional conduct, severe impact and high contact – and Jonas’ attempt to have the charge downgraded cost him any chance of a discount.

* STEVEN BAKER – nine games (total), 2010

St Kilda’s serial offender pleaded guilty to three charges of striking Geelong’s Steve Johnson, and lost an appeal against a fourth charge of misconduct for hitting Johnson’s broken hand in the same game. Baker also copped a seven-game ban for knocking out Fremantle forward Jeff Farmer behind the play in 2007.

* DEAN SOLOMON – eight games, 2008

The Fremantle utility caught Cameron Ling flush with a menacing elbow after the Geelong tagger had dished off a handball. Ling suffered a compressed fracture of the cheekbone and Solomon copped the most severe tribunal penalty in more than a decade.

* BARRY HALL – seven games, 2008

Sydney premiership player Hall will forever be remembered for the sickening left hook that felled West Coast defender Brent Staker. Staker was knocked out before he hit the ground and Hall later admitted he feared the violent blow could have killed his opponent.

with AAP