Andrew Gaff’s strike won’t define him as a person, writes former coach David King

AFL great David King was once Andrew Gaff’s coach. And while he isn’t defending his former player’s punch, he’s hit back at the backlash he’s received for one act of support following his post-match interview.

ANDREW Gaff either made an extreme error of judgment between the chest and the chin or intentionally aimed up and nailed an unsuspecting Andrew Brayshaw with a sickening blow.

The fallout has been significant and the opinions range from police intervention to a 12-week suspension or down to six to eight games on the sidelines, effectively ending Gaff’s year.

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The entire football community is completely sympathetic to Andrew Brayshaw, who through no fault of his own will gain nutrition through a straw for a month and miss the remainder of the season.

An AFL player is entitled to believe an action like that isn’t likely in this current day and age.

Michael Johnson sought retribution on Eagle Andrew Gaff. Pic: AAP

The environment on Sunday afternoon at ground level switched from an uneventful one-sided affair to a tinderbox as the knowledge of what had taken place, and by whom, filtered through the Fremantle playing group.

The start of the last quarter had the hallmarks of violence as Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters just needed an invitation for an almighty dust-up, but sanity prevailed.

The Fremantle Football Club should be recognised for their professionalism under trying circumstances.

At the time it would’ve been wise to take Andrew Gaff from the field for the remainder of the battle as the target on his scalp was clear and obvious if not all-consuming for the Dockers.

David King says Andrew Gaff’s strike on Andrew Brayshaw came from nowhere. Pic: Getty Images

The fans appeared oblivious to the situation as every Gaff disposal received significant support from the home crowd which luckily was the West Coast Eagles’.

Imagine if it had been a Fremantle home game.

This incident isn’t in line with the Andrew Gaff I’ve known throughout his blemish-free AFL journey, nor his under-18 years at Oakleigh Chargers or while he was captain of Carey Grammar.

I coached Andrew for two seasons and his leadership and character cannot be questioned nor challenged.

If would be different if we were discussing a recidivist. We all accept that character isn’t necessarily a factor that mitigates any time on the sidelines but it’s important to recognise it all the same.

Ross Lyon was emphatic in his damning of Gaff, while the support for his player and the Brayshaw family remained the priority.

Andrew Gaff and I spoke on Fox Footy approximately 20 minutes after the match. The interview was delayed two or three times as Andrew had been overcome with regret and sorrow, a state which would have rendered any interview useless.

It was important for Gaff to gather himself, express and exhibit remorse, which he did regardless of the exact words or phrases used.

I gave Andrew a brief hug as we finished the interview, as anyone would a mate, brother, son in a stressful and emotional moment.

What I thought was a supportive gesture wasn’t well received on Twitter — you’d have thought it was a high-five such was the feedback. It’s a crazy and spiteful world in which we now live.

The social media parasites thrive on such indefensible on-field incidents such as this and some of those people are media performers that should know better.

The anger is understandable to a point, but the language sometimes used is as unacceptable as the initial Andrew Gaff action.

It’s as though it’s a become a race to be the most outraged.

This is an isolated incident that will be punished as per the normal tribunal channels and Gaff’s case shouldn’t carry the can for all of society’s issues.

The AFL Tribunal is far from the court of law across the land, so let’s just temper the savaging.

The traumatic damage to Andrew Brayshaw cannot be forgotten and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

As for Andrew Gaff, this incident will always be on his CV but it doesn’t define him as a person.

Time will heal, and I hope both Andrews continue on their successful AFL careers. I’d expect both will recommence no sooner than 2019.

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Originally published as Andrew Gaff’s strike won’t define him as a person, writes former coach David King