Andrew Gaff’s Brownlow Medal hopes are in tatters after a terrible incident in today’s Western Derby.
The West Coast wingman will undoubtedly be suspended for this off-the-ball hit on Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw during the third quarter which has done damage to the jaw and teeth of the first-year player.
It was purely an act of frustration from Gaff, despite the fact the Eagles were in complete control of the contest.
He is now likely to spend some time on the sidelines and could miss the remainder of the home-and-away season as well as some of the 2018 finals series for producing an extremely unsavoury event on an otherwise great weekend of footy.
Watch the incident below:
Andrew Brayshaw left the ground bleeding from the mouth after an incident involving Andrew Gaff.#AFLEaglesFreo pic.twitter.com/ECZgNqiehg
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2018
You could tell Gaff was remorseful afterwards but the AFL has to come down hard on this as they did with Melbourne’s Tom Bugg for his cowardly punch on Sydney’s Callum Mills last season.
Adam Simpson came down to the bench to talk to Andrew Gaff. #AFLEaglesFreo pic.twitter.com/Lsv0BjoFpk
— AFL (@AFL) August 5, 2018
Further to Gaff’s suspension worries is that the force of contact has forced Brayshaw to be taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw.
Update: Andrew Brayshaw off to hospital now, being treated for a broken jaw #AFLEaglesFreo #foreverfreo pic.twitter.com/JnfZptPeCc
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) August 5, 2018