Andrew Gaff has been suspended for eight weeks by the AFL tribunal.
The sanction has been handed down after a lengthy deliberation, which came in the wake of West Coast QC David Grace's attempts to plead the expected hefty suspension down.
The Eagles star pleaded guilty to intentionally striking after delivering a punch which broke the jaw and damaged the lower teeth of Fremantle youngster Andrew Brayshaw in Sunday’s Western Derby.
As a result, Brayshaw was admitted to hospital and underwent surgery on Sunday night. Gaff revealed that he sent Brayshaw a text on the night which read "how truly sorry he was".
His final words from tonight's hearing were: "I never intended this outcome. I never intended to hit him in his head."
26-year-old Gaff, who has played 175 AFL matches, had never been reported nor fined prior to the weekend’s ugly incident which has been described by many as out of character for the wingman.
WATCH THE INCIDENT AND REACTION HERE
The Victorian will next be eligible to play for the Eagles early in season 2019. Exactly when he can resume all depends on how many finals games the second-placed Eagles play this year.
There were calls within the media for more significant sanctions for Gaff but the tribunal has come down hard with the eight-game suspension.
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