Andrew Gaff handed season-ending suspension for strike on Freo’s Andrew Brayshaw

EAGLE Andrew Gaff has spoken following his massive eight-week ban for punching Andrew Brayshaw, saying he still considers himself to be a caring, gentle, and measured person.

EAGLES star Andrew Gaff has copped a whopping eight-week season-ending ban as it was revealed that his punch victim Andrew Brayshaw could be left with five “effectively dead” teeth.

A distraught Gaff – who pleaded guilty to the intentional, severe and high strike - maintained that he had intended to strike Brayshaw in the chest but that his young Dockers opponent planted his feet and dropped, causing him to punch him in the head. “I just want to say I’m so, so sorry to Andrew and the Brayshaw family for the pain I’ve caused them over the last 48 hours,” he said. MARK ROBINSON: GAFF PUNCH WAS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN 360 VIEW: ‘MIC DROP’ MOMENT STUNS AFL TRIBUNAL BRAYSHAW DAD’S PLEA: FORGIVE ANDREW GAFF RECAP ALL THE ACTION FROM THE HEARING BELOW “I respect the Brayshaw boys so much and the way they go about it, and I’m disappointed in my own actions and it really hurts a lot. “The last 48 hours has probably been the toughest couple of days of my life and people that I’ve spoken to and people that have seen me in that time know the pain I’m in and how much I’m suffering. “I see myself as a caring, gentle, and measured person and that’s why it’s disappointing so much more. “I’m disappointed for Andrew and disappointed in myself and disappointed to let my teammates down at an important time of the year. I’m disappointed to let my supporters down as well. “For the time being, I’m going to surround myself with friends and family and those who care for me most. Once again, I just want to apologise wholeheartedly to Andrew and I hope he gets better soon.” The AFL, in calling for a penalty of between eight and 12 weeks, described the incident as “an historically significant offence” and “a full-blooded punch”. Jeff Gleeson argued that Gaff had “looked at Brayshaw, squared himself and threw a punch” and that “he did indeed intend to strike Brayshaw in the head”. “The strike was unrestrained in its execution, ferocious in its impact and grave in its consequence,” he said. “It was a full-blooded punch.” CASE RECAP: HOW THE GAFF CASE PLAYED OUT AT THE TRIBUNAL GONE WRONG: WHY GAFF’S PUNCH WAS A PUNCH GONE WRONG DAVID KING: WHY WE SHOULDN’T SAVAGE ANDREW GAFF Fremantle Dockers Ken Withers revealed that three of Brayshaw’s lower teeth had “hinged backwards into his mouth” from the punch that also broke his jaw, and that a specialist had indicated that the since-splintered teeth had lost their nerve supply and may not survive. “He’s also attended the dentist who tested the teeth for viability, who thinks four of the lower teeth and one of the upper teeth are not viable with his drill,” Withers said. “We have to wait and see what that means.” He described the teeth as “effectively dead” and said the process could “take several months, with the teeth perhaps turning black”. “It may include dental work ... including root canal therapy right up to possible implants,” he said. Tribunal chairman Ross Howie was defiant in his instruction to the panel before it delivered its verdict, saying that the penalty it handed down had to send a message that punching was “reprehensible” and had no place in the game. Gaff, 26, said that in most games, given his running ability, he is often closely checked by opponents and had been by Brayshaw on Sunday. But he was adamant that the punch was not delivered in frustration, but in an effort to gain some space. Gaff had his good record highlighted with Eagles counsel David Grace QC adamant that his “good character gives rise to exceptional circumstances”. The playmaker has played 175 games for West Coast and before this week had never been reported or fined for any incident. Character references – including from Eagles coach Adam Simpson, captain Shannon Hurn, former West Coast and current Essendon coach John Worsfold and Gaff’s former Carey Grammar school principal – were also tendered. Simpson spoke with Gaff on the bench soon after the incident, and the midfielder said he told his coach that he was “rattled”. “I was heartbroken,” he said. “The coach talked to me and tried to keep me focused on the rest of the game and I was rattled. I said to him, ‘mate, I’m rattled’. “It was very hard to keep playing from that point on. I’ve always prided myself on playing the ball at all times and I’m very disappointed in how it ended. I feel so sorry for Andrew and how he’s feeling at the moment.” Gaff said he “instantly felt sick” when he saw Brayshaw on the ground and that he did not want to play on. He said he had messaged Brayshaw in the aftermath to express his remorse. Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >

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