The West Coast Eagles clash with the Fremantle Dockers threatened to be overshadowed by an off the ball incident in the third quarter, in which Andrew Gaff collected young gun Andrew Brayshaw in the head with a wild punch.
Brayshaw remained lying flat on the ground for several moments, before he was helped from the field by trainers, visibly bleeding from his mouth.
Gaff is certain to come under intense scrutiny from the MRO. Hawthorn’s Daniel Howe was recently suspended for two matches after striking Carlton’s Patrick Cripps in the jaw, yet the Blues midfielder had been able to carry on playing.
The bizarre nature of the act was perhaps best summed up by vision of Gaff himself later holding his head in his hands as he sat on the bench.
Fox Footy’s David King believes the incident will be sent straight to the tribunal.
“It’s going to be classified as intentional. It’s going to be high contact and high impact,” King said.
“We’re looking at finals here.”
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