Play Nice Was that Gaffs last game for WC?

[Magus]

So as your a Port supporter you'd think the same should be said and thought of re Tom Jonas?

Must have missed the part where Tom got a little cuddle from Kingy after the match or Ken telling him that everything is alright on the bench.

 

[Smeg Head]

Again, I only see the "not my club defence" or "what did this club do" response as a distraction and childish.

I would not defend my club for failing in it's duty of care. In the situation you raised, it could be a breach of AFL rules, it may even be a civil incident but if a serious incident like death occurred, then it would be criminal.

Please create a different thread if you want to discuss further.

And you are using a 'what if' defense in your post right there.

And the situation I raised isn't a matter of could be a breach of AFL rules, it was.

 

[bzparkes]

Ignore them. Weagle supporters aren’t renowned for being rational

We're probably the most rational people in this thread...

 

[Heisenberg_]

Wasn’t replayed on the big screen...

Far out you guys have cracked.

Surely you don’t need a big screen replay to figure out the way Freo we’re reacting to Gaff following Brayshaw coming off the ground with blood everywhere he probably doesn’t deserve a standing ovation.

 

[Farang83150]

Must have missed the part where Tom got a little cuddle from Kingy after the match or Ken telling him that everything is alright on the bench.

WTF has your post got to do with the post i was replying to or are you just a total moron with a reading impediment? (see below)

What a joke. Post got deleted. Delete all you like. There will be an asterix against Gaff for the rest of his life. People still remember Bickley nailing Wakelin and this will be no different. Hopefully it stuffs West Coast's season up. Their supporters are terrible.

 

[captain cotch 9]

WCE have highlights of the brawl on their website.
Im not sure any other club would do that...
very strange

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Fallout for Gaff and future decisions:

For the coward punch (or since Danny Green is a WC supporter, a 'remorseful, unintentional, accidental, love tap'), 6-8 weeks based on precedent.

There will not be any police action whether it is warranted (on legal grounds, not emotional opinion) or not.

Freo will hate West Coast more than ever, if that is possible. Freo fans next derby will even out-boo West Coast, if that is possible.

The game will go on the rest of the year, just not with Brayshaw or Gaff playing in it.

Brayshaw's Dad will give Adam Simpson a piece of his mind next AFL coaches association meeting.

Gaff will probably not go to the Melbourne FC (not that they could have much cap space left anyway).

Hamish Brayshaw will no longer be friends with Gaff, but the rest of West Coast (aided by their "Principal Media Partner" sponsors, The West Australian Newspapers and Channel 7) "will wrap their arms around Gaff" (some cynical people might incorrectly say: in an supreme effort to keep Gaff from signing with a Melbourne club at the end of the year), the remorseful victim with good character, and 'good bloke' that he is, and help him get through this tough time, no thanks to Brayshaw intentionally ducking his head to cause severe contact with Gaff's slightly clenched hand that was simply reaching for the ball which he believed was somewhere in the vicinity of Brayshaw's chest. Then they will help counsel Gaff through the immediate remorse he felt afterwards for the downed Brayshaw when he ran straight down field and continued playing. Then the further remorse when he cried on the bench realising that Brayshaw's ducking into his outstretched hand while he was innocently trying to shake off some wrist cramp, will now cause some damage to his reputation and Brownlow chances (Mitchell chuckles...)

Gaff will leave WC at the end of the year, no longer able to walk the streets of Perth without inciting angry hecklers, Fremantle will be off limits altogether, and not wanting to play Freo twice each year for the rest of his career in Perth and risk some other spiteful Dockers player ducking their head anywhere near his soft, innocent, good blokey, outstretched hands. On the other hand, he will miss the cuddles from Simpson which does make him feel all warm and special and innocenty.

I read this as a quoted post responded to on a later page and was 100% sure you were a Freo supporter before I even looked.

Hey, footy's an emotional game and I suspect I'd feel angry if it happened to a North player, especially a young one. But I would probably refrain from posting such over the top sooking.

 

[dockshark]

people calling for him to be jailed for 10+ years

Do you know what a straw-man argument is?

Ho many people have suggested that? Seriously, I have not seen one post.

 

[Ok Boomer]

I understand your point, but in terms of playing senior AFL, he is a kid.

His age is still irrelevant to the incident. 18 year olds do not play under different rules to 30 year olds last time I checked.

 

[Carl Spackler]

If what Barry Hall did on Brent Staker happened on the street he would also be in jail. Same for loads of other incidents that attracted more than a month from the tribunal.

Doesn't mean what Gaff did will see him before a court, though.

If Staker has pressed charges then Hall would likely have been fined with no conviction as there was no lasting damage.

The issue for Gaff is the grevious bodily harm. That’s a whole different category of offense whether it was intentionally or recklessly inflicted. If the police choose to pursue an investigation (and Bradshaw agrees) it will be due to the serious physical damage which resulted from an unprovoked attack. This was not a common, everyday punch up.

For those disputing the provocation, there were no actions outside the normal course of play before the punch was thrown. Shirtfronting and niggle are accepted tactics and not provocation for an assault.

Gaff has a monumental brain fade. The consequences for Brayshaw were devastating. The consequences for Gaff will quite possibly be very serious.

IMO only.

 

[RudyBlue]

I think that’s probably what happened. He went to lash out with a hit to the chest (which happens hundreds of times a game when players tangle) and just got it horribly wrong. It all happens in a split second.

Given his impeccable record and the fact he seemed pretty genuinely shocked afterwards, I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s not a violent type at all.

He’ll still get 5-6 weeks, a big penalty. And the AFL may get a wake-up call to crack down on all punching - body and head.

Nothing more really needs to be said on the matter

 

[Demons09]

They always think they're being driven against a wall and disadvantaged, the poor muffins. Then this happens and those posting here can only think, "What about me? It isn't fair. Gaff is a good kid, he wouldn't do this. Can't you see?"

Don't worry when he leaves they'll boo the faark out of him and accuse him of derailing their finals campaign.

 

[Yidaki]

His age is still irrelevant to the incident. 18 year olds do not play under different rules to 30 year olds last time I checked.

I never said his age was relevant to the incident. I could have said he was a pineapple that got put into hospital and it would have the same meaning that I intended it to have.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

men don't hit women
men don't hit kids
men don't hit 18 yo
men don't hit other men

they are all wrong but they do have a rank order in the eyes of society as they highlight the cowardness of the act.

In Gaff's defence, I think most though recognise it was uncharacteristic of Gaff to do what he did. However, he must face the music and the courts should take into account his otherwise good character and remorse.

There is the problem though in society.

Some men do hit Women
Some Men and women hit kids
an 18 year old is a man
Men do hit other men.

No excuse for Gaff's action. But when I watch any AFL game I see every single player as the same. there age is of no relevance to me. It wasn't when I played and never will be when I watch. Juts 44 men playing football. The Colts play at 10am in the morning if I want to watch the kids play.

 

[kylegee28]

WCE have highlights of the brawl on their website.
Im not sure any other club would do that...
very strange

The same AFL determined highlights that also feature on the Freo website? Turn it up.

 

[Ok Boomer]

I never said his age was relevant to the incident. I could have said he was a pineapple that got put into hospital and it would have the same meaning that I intending it to have.

Fair enough, but the past wasn't aimed just at you too.

 

[Wally Walpamur]

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/a...eaking-punch-on-andrew-brayshaw-ng-b88919161z

WA Police looking into the incident.

 

[jdisc]

WCE have highlights of the brawl on their website.
Im not sure any other club would do that...
very strange

what even is this post

 

[Magus]

WTF has your post got to do with the post i was replying to or are you just a total moron with a reading impediment? (see below)

Compare the treatment of the two players. Jonas had his character assassinated almost immediately. Gaff has had a sympathy parade since the very moment the incident took place. So for your question re: how will Jonas be remembered, he was already given no chance to defend himself.

 

[Woody15]

A line has to be drawn somewhere and currently it is in the wrong spot.

Being a director of a mining company, where it is inevitable a worker will die under my watch I think about that line all the time. Heavy machinery, bush fire, kidnap and terrorism are the things that keep me focused for staff safety.

Imagine if a dozen people died at a mine site and on current affair a director said "I did nothing despite knowing the risks". They'd be crucified on Current Affair, crucified in the civil courts and criminal courts.......and so they should be.

The same laws that oversee mining, oversee the AFL. If a players died from a Jonas, Gaff, Hall, Matthews etc type incident, I dare say jail time for AFL bosses would follow.

Personally I would draw the line at "act of one's own folly" vs "part of the game". I think most of us can see what is football and what is criminal assault.

I completely understand your point and I acknowledge an argument can be raised as to whether criminal prosecution should extend to sporting fields. My point is I fear for what may occur as a result of it. Incidents like these with Gaff are very rare and should charges be laid, I fear it will become a slippery slope of constant prosecutions.

The difference between what will be a criminal assault vs match incident could become increasingly blurred as more charges are laid.

For now, I'm happy that the AFL punish a player but when incidents come along that like Gaff's that raise this question, it does make you think whether we are closer to criminal prosecutions. I hope not.

 

[Purple Suit]

His age is still irrelevant to the incident. 18 year olds do not play under different rules to 30 year olds last time I checked.

His age is as relevant as Gaff's record. We all base our interpretation of the incident with our legal hats on, therefore character and intent also come into it. Hence punching a 1st year player in the head is seen as worse than doing it to a veteran who can handle himself. Not sure the AFL tribunal will care but it might if it is also taking Gaff's record and history into account.

 

[_Mike_]

"The police will often look at the governing body, the disciplinary process, and if they think that process is sufficiently robust, the penalties are there and it's being applied properly they will often defer to that sporting organisation and respect its autonomy to run its own affairs"

Would the police act on an AFL punch?

And that's the bottom line.

 

[jdisc]

We're probably the most rational people in this thread...

are you defending gaff?!?!

 

[Ok Boomer]

His age is as relevant as Gaff's record. We all base our interpretation of the incident with our legal hats on, therefore character and intent also come into it. Hence punching a 1st year player in the head is seen as worse than doing it to a veteran who can handle himself. Not sure the AFL tribunal will care but it might if it is also taking Gaff's record and history into account.

He may have not even been aware of who it was. I doubt everyone is running around on the football field wondering how old the guy standing next to him is.

 

[Freoforever86]

Yes, I'm suggesting that Brayshaw may have over stepped the mark ... why did he lash out against Brayshaw? What did Brayshaw do send Gaff over the edge?

Why would you assume that though?

Is it too hard to fathom that Gaff has just had a brain snap? Why does it need to be the victims fault to justify?