Play Nice Was that Gaffs last game for WC?

[E Shed]

Fractured jaw, 4 displaced teeth according to Lyon presser.
Gaff interviewed and said he felt sick but wouldn't say it was an accident even when King tried prompting him.

 

[Reginald Perrin]

Have to laugh at the responses, Brayshaw clearly drops as he goes to change direction.

Gaff is gone for 4 weeks or so but it's not a haymaker, nor did he line him up. It's a poorly executed punch to the body and he'll miss games accordingly.

They were cheering him because Gaff knew he'd made a serious blunder and regretted it majorly. He was almost in tears numerous times throughout the game. Shit move, but in my honest opinion, he was going for the chest. The Dockers player went to run off and his knees bent. In any case, if it was meant, yes it's an idiotiic thing to do but we're human and we all make mistakes. I'm not condoning it, he should and will get punished and I'm guessing 4 weeks. But it's not like you haven't did anything in your life that you're not ashamed of.

not broken jaw yet. teeth knocked out would require hospital treatment. lets not confirm until its confirmed 100%.

Also Brayshaw slipping last minute. Gaff swing height is actually at waist level. He got him on a quick split second set of circumstances with Brayshaws positioning. Dumb yes but in Gaffs defense it was not aiming for head contact and going to be a punch to the gut. Was dumb and will get weeks but is no way near what Barry Hall did.

It's bad no doubt. But I really don't think he intended to hit him in the face. If you look at the incident Brayshaw slipped about a second before Gaff made contact. I think he was going for the peck. Don't know whether that will get taken into consideration.

Do you people have one eye closed all the time or does the club gouge it completely out of your head?

Try opening both eyes and taking a good, hard look at the replay again.

 

[Arcassius]

The coverage showing Brayshaw leaving in the ambulance and Pavlich saying 'thoughts with the Brayshaw family' talk about being melodramatic.

In saying that though the AFL media love the drama and will milk this story on all the oversaturated footy shows that run during the week.

The coverage showing Simpson consoling Gaff on the bench. Likewise. That's when the 'its clearly out of character and he's shown remorse' defense started. And continued after the game.

 

[ArdentEagle]

I haven't seen it, did he really get applauded off the ground?
If that was one of my players I'd be fcuking fuming that he has affected our finals chances.

I saw the applause as being emotional support for Gaff from the fan base, (as you could tell he was very distressed by his actions)

 

[Strange Cat]

Not sure you understand.. the supporters and players were getting behind one of our own, not necessarily condoning the act but realising he ****** up. People make mistakes mate, he’ll get his punishment but he’s still an Eagle and still an AFL footballer so we get behind him. Not defending the act, defending the person..

But you cheered a player after he punched a kid...that’s a reward

You really don’t get it do you?

 

[mightymouse75]

Standing ovation. The eagles crowd are fn wrong. They are like soccer supporters. They don't care about fair play. Look at the way the umpires have been intimidated in the past 10 years. And if you are a wc supporter and this is not you ? Ask the person sitting next to you and ask them if applauding a coward punch is acceptable?

 

[nameless]

Disgusting act.

Not paying someone who does that $1m+ a year.

 

[Tyler Hodges]

Bugg on mills
Hall on staker

It’s in that category. Given the extent of damage to brayshaw - broken jaw, lost teeth , concussion - you’d have to say he’s looking at around 8 weeks

Staker and Mills had concussion but no facial fractures, Staker missed 1 week, Mills missed none.

 

[citizen-erased]

question
Given this was off the ball and nowhere in the contest, why doesn't Gaff get an assault charge against him.
If i punched someone at work, i imagine that would be the result for me.

 

[legend166]

Suspected broken jaw, lost teeth. Went straight to hospital.

So 6 is probably too low based on that. Mills didn't play out the game against Melbourne but was back the next week.

If Gaff broke the guys jaw you have to think it could be up to 8 weeks. Even Staker only missed a week when Hall punched him.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Ok home from the game.

Shocking stuff, Gaff will get 5-6 weeks.

Having been at the game though...there was no replay on the big screen of the Brayshaw hit...at all...not at the breaks, in play etc.

So please ease up on the ‘rabid scum cheering for subhuman bastard’ stuff and be realistic. Gaff was definitely getting cheers after Johnson/Ryan rightly crunched him but the majority had no idea what happened prior to that.

 

[Tyler Hodges]

So 6 is probably too low based on that. Mills didn't play out the game against Melbourne but was back the next week.

If Gaff broke the guys jaw you have to think it could be up to 8 weeks. Even Staker only missed a week when Hall punched him.

only other incident resulting in a facial fracture was Solomons hit on Ling. eagles fans throwing around the old 4-5 weeks is laughable.

 

[blue harvest]

It's funny seeing posters of teams who will play finals wanting him gone for the rest of season. No ulterior motive there nope....

Seen plenty of posters from outside the 8 in here.

 

[nameless]

Standing ovation. The eagles crowd are fn wrong. They are like soccer supporters. They don't care about fair play. Look at the way the umpires have been intimidated in the past 10 years. And if you are a wc supporter and this is not you ? Ask the person sitting next to you and ask them if applauding a coward punch is acceptable?

I don't defend the action at all.
But the action was never shown at the ground, so no one really knew what happened.

All some saw was Gaff getting hit (and fair enough). So supporters thought he was getting hit for nothing.

Did feel a bit wrong hearing all the cheering when i did see what he did though.

 

[Bardo State]

I don't really see any notable ducking or slipping. Brayshaw's head is at about the same height for the entire wind-up and swing. Doesn't lower at the last second. Gaff looking right at him.

 

[Unknown Identity]

If that was at a bar, he'd be charged with serious assault.

On a footy field only a suspension.

Strange world we live in.
7-8 weeks for me, that's up there with Barry Hall.

 

[rado]

It’s a very good example of why throwing a punch in any circumstance (not just AFL) is completely reckless, can lead to significant damage, including death.

I dont believe Gaff intended to break Bradshaw’s jaw, but the damage by acting recklessly cannot be undone and he must be penalised harshly.

 

[blue harvest]

Ok home from the game.

Shocking stuff, Gaff will get 5-6 weeks.

Having been at the game though...there was no replay on the big screen of the Brayshaw hit...at all...not at the breaks, in play etc.

So please ease up on the ‘rabid scum cheering for subhuman bastard’ stuff and be realistic. Gaff was definitely getting cheers after Johnson/Ryan rightly crunched him but the majority had no idea what happened prior to that.

But you have posters in here claiming he was applauded as emotional support because he was so upset about it.
Which one is it?

 

[Macpotata]

It's funny how 90 percent of the dockers supporters said it was great when Dale Kickett mauled Hunter and hit him about 10 times for no reason. Many of them still take pride in that.

 

[kaiserchief13]

You can see at the point of impact Brayshaw throws his head backwards. If he stayed still punch would have hit the chest. Could get intent changed based on that

 

[Biggy_Boy]

You say that like he swung his arm and Brayshaw's face just happened to be in the way.

 

[BG__]

Anywhere between 4-8 weeks, heck given inconsistencies with the MRO he might just cop a fine. Still of the belief that stiking the face wasnt what he intended (and went for the arm/shoulder), but what happened happened and the result was pretty horrific injuries which Gaff will pay for. Inner Eagles supporter hopes it's 4 weeks but most likely 5-6.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

I like gaff, but the good character defense got fried with the Houli appeal

I'll be stunned if he gets less than 8 given the damage, and how off the ball it was

 

[eastfreo75]

I don't defend the action at all.
But the action was never shown at the ground, so no one really knew what happened.

All some saw was Gaff getting hit (and fair enough). So supporters thought he was getting hit for nothing.

Did feel a bit wrong hearing all the cheering when i did see what he did though.

Everybody saw Brayshaw come off with a bloody jaw and then the Dockers targeted Gaff. Can’t people figure that out?

 

[Reginald Perrin]

I want to get an idea on neutral supporters opinions on the cheering for Gaff by WC fans after the incident.

Logically, I understand why you did it but it left a very bad taste in my mouth and I lost a fair bit of respect for you lot. I am obviously biased

I was at the game and it was incredibly distasteful, but perhaps not unexpected, of west coast supporters. So much poison at that ground they should call it the snake pit when the eagles play. Most of the supporters don't know the players or the rules, all they know is if the whistle goes and it's not their free, it's time to boo hard.