Power’s Tom Jonas to face music after hit KOs West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff

PORT Adelaide will be without a remorseful Tom Jonas for next week’s clash against Melbourne but the question is for how long after that, following his hit on Eagles midfielder Andrew Gaff on Saturday night.

A melee breaks out after Tom Jonas knocked out Andrew Gaff. Picture: Mark Brake.

PORT Adelaide will be without a remorseful Tom Jonas for next week’s clash against Melbourne but the question is for how long after that, following his hit on West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff on Saturday night.

Gaff was carried from the ground on the motorised stretcher after being hit in the head with what appeared to be a Jonas forearm as he went back with the flight of the ball and took a mark in the third quarter.

Gaff lay motionless on the turf and the game was stopped for about three minutes as he was taken into the rooms.

Post-match West Coast coach Adam Simpson said Gaff was “fine” and would fly back to Perth with the team on Saturday night.

He also said he hoped the AFL would not fine players for their involvement in a melee which was sparked by the incident.

“I haven’t really got a comment, I haven’t looked at it in serious detail, some of me thinks ‘that’s footy’ and part of me thinks it might have been a bit over the line,” Simpson said.

“I hope we don’t fine all our players for a melee after that either, there’s not much choice when that happens and it settled down pretty quick, so hopefully we avoid the bigger fine.

“He’s (Gaff) one of the tougher players I’ve coached.

“I know he’s an outside player and gets a lot of uncontested ball but he’s got the games record in a row at the football club, he plays sore all the time and never takes his eyes off the ball and it doesn’t surprise me he didn’t again.”

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley defended Jonas’ character and said the rugged backman was concerned for Gaff’s welfare immediately after the game.

“Tommy does play close to the line, we understand that’s the way he plays his football, Tommy would be disappointed that Gaff got hurt.

“I’ve just spoken to him (Jonas) and his concern is all about Gaff and making sure he’s OK.

“His intent is not to cause the damage that obviously happened, he would be more worried for the player that got hurt than himself.

“He takes it to the edge, that’s the way he plays his footy and he’s made a mistake.

“He’s a nice bloke, he knows he made a mistake, the AFL will take care of that and Tommy will cop what comes his way but he’s more concerned for Andrew.”

While the Eagles remonstrated with Jonas after the incident, they shook hands with him on the ground after the game and there did not appear to be any animosity.

West Coast was given a 50m penalty from the incident and Josh Hill kicked a goal from the square which put them five goals up in the third quarter.

Jonas wasn’t the only Port Adelaide player to go in the book during the loss to the Eagles with brilliant midfielder Robbie Gray reported in the fourth quarter.

Gray was penalised for tripping West Coast’s Mark LeCras with his leg as LeCras attempted to side step him and Gray had his number taken.

Port will also have injury clouds over Hamish Hartlett (corkie and shoulder) and Darcy Byrne-Jones (ankle) who appeared hurt during the game.

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Originally published as Power’s Tom Jonas to face music after hit KOs West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff