Andrew Gaff’s ugly hit on Fremantle youngster Andrew Brayshaw won’t deter Melbourne from pursuing the AFL free agent, Demons co-captain Nathan Jones says.
West Coast star Gaff will front the tribunal on Tuesday night over the punch which broke the jaw of 18-year-old Brayshaw, the younger brother of Melbourne midfielder Angus.
The incident in Sunday’s Western Derby, which left Dockers teenager Brayshaw with three displaced teeth, is likely to cost Gaff a season-ending suspension.
Gaff’s shocking brain-fade has created a potentially awkward situation for the Demons given they are favourites to snare the Eagles midfielder should he opt to exercise his rights as a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
Jones says the ordeal has been distressing for teammate Angus Brayshaw, brother of Andrew, but doesn’t expect there to be any lingering awkwardness should Gaff become a Demon.
“I wouldn’t have thought so,” Jones said on Tuesday.
“Obviously initially, but water would go under the bridge and guys would be able to mend and build relationships from that.
“Obviously (Angus) was disappointed by the whole thing, worried about his brother’s health and those kind of things.
“But he moves on now and his family’s over there, the (Fremantle) footy club will take care of him and the whole situation in itself will unfold with Gaff at the tribunal.”
A third Brayshaw brother, 20-year-old draftee Hamish, is a close friend and teammate of Gaff at West Coast.
Jones did not believe Gaff had intended to make contact with Andrew Brayshaw’s head but said such acts needed to be stamped out of the game.
The veteran Demon is in favour of the AFL introducing a send-off rule in extreme cases, pointing to the fallout during Sunday’s Derby where Brayshaw’s teammates sought retribution against Gaff.
“A red card system … probably eliminates some of that and removes some of the tension that flows on from an incident like that,” Jones said.
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan on Monday said he remained opposed to a send-off rule despite growing support.
“For one or two incidents a year, the deterrent is clearly there – we don’t see that stuff much in our game any more,” McLachlan told the Seven Network.