Ex-AFL gun unloads on ‘fragile’ Dees’ ‘absolutely pathetic’ excuse

The former Hawk and Sun took aim at the Dees after senior officials said Angus Brayshaw’s concussion played a role in their finals exit.

That was heartbreaking. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Former Hawthorn and Gold Coast forward Campbell Brown has slammed Melbourne after a report senior club figures believed Angus Brayshaw’s concussion contributed to the side’s finals exit.

The Demons were defeated in successive weeks to end their premiership campaign and keep the side winless in finals since their 2021 premiership breakthrough.

Watch every match of The 2023 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >

Brayshaw’s health and the AFL Tribunal fate of Brayden Maynard dominated the postscript of the game and the build-up to Melbourne’s loss to Carlton, which Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph told Fox Footy had an impact on the club in the eyes of some.

“A strong belief from senior figures still a week on is that the Angus Brayshaw furore derailed their finals pitch,” he said during On The Couch.

“That the players were shell shocked to witness Brayshaw concussed and laid out cold.

“So Jacob van Rooyen suspended because he was trying to basically physically intimidate the opposition, the Kossie Pickett first half brain fades this week. Him trying to impose himself.

“Some would say it’s a cop out, but it is something senior figures have expressed. There are people that feel like they just were discombobulated by it.”

It’s the second straight sets exit in two years. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

An incensed Brown took aim at that belief on SEN Track on Tuesday.

“I don’t want to hear bloody complaints and excuses from the Melbourne footy club,” Brown said.

“They choked twice, lets be honest. They couldn’t get the job done.

“One, because they aren’t as good as what they think they are and two, because they can’t execute in front of goals. It’s pretty simple.”

Brown labelled the belief “absolutely pathetic”, declaring: “Don’t look for excuses and give me that garbage. Get mentally stronger as a playing group. I won’t have it.”

The officials in question, Brown added, should be disciplined.

“If I was Simon Goodwin and whoever that senior Melbourne official was, I’d gag them, because that is just absolute rot,” Brown added.

“You don’t come out publicly and say you got knocked out in straight sets of a finals series because a player got concussed, just pathetic.

“I think they’re a fragile football club and have been for a little while and they just played into that.”

Originally published as Ex-AFL gun unloads on ‘fragile’ Dees’ ‘absolutely pathetic’ excuse