Andrew Gaff’s brain fade in the Western Derby has given the AFL another reason to look at a potential red card send-off rule in the future.
West Coast’s win over state rival Fremantle was marred when the star midfielder struck Andrew Brayshaw in the face in the third quarter, leaving the Docker bloodied with a suspected broken jaw.
While, Brayshaw was sent to hospital for further treatment, a distraught Gaff was taken from the field late in the quarter and was seen being consoled by coach Adam Simpson before the three-quarter time break.
Previous unsportsmanlike incidents like Gaff’s have raised the question whether the AFL should introduce a send-off rule.
Notably, Jeremy Cameron’s hit on Harris Andrews put the defender out of action for five weeks, while Cameron played out the remainder of the game.
Jack Riewoldt was concussed by an errant Jake Carlisle forearm in Round 10 early into the first quarter. This left the Tigers a man down for effectively the entire game.
The debate surrounding a potential red card rule has been centered on equalising a team once they have lost a player due to a foul act, while at the same time punishing the player responsible.
But the Gaff incident raised another concern as the Eagle was almost instantly the target of Fremantle players, looking to retaliate on behalf of their fallen teammate.
Should the AFL look at implementing a red card rule, not only for the reasons stated above, but for the safety and welfare of the player who committed the unsavoury act?
The hit on Brayshaw lit a fuse on what had been a quiet and non-competitive Western Derby, leading to spot fires for the umpires to put out around Optus Stadium.
Gaff was the target of several Fremantle players as Hayden Ballantyne lined up Gaff for a hard bump on the ball, leading to a physical response from West Coast players.
Just wow. Ross Lyon's first words at his press conference: "Andrew Brayshaw was king hit 100 metres off the ball. He has got a fractured jaw and four displaced teeth that are caved in and he will be undergoing surgery tonight."
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) August 5, 2018
More Ross Lyon: "I have got an 18 year old kid that I saw in a real mess when I came down to the rooms and his mum in tears when I was walking in. It's not very palatable…. I don't think I am angry. It's not about how I feel, I am sitting here healthy."
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) August 5, 2018
The fourth quarter saw Gaff collect a loose ball in space only to dispose of it poorly but immediately, knowing he would be met by Dockers players out for revenge.
In the same moment, Luke Ryan and Michael Johnson, sprinted towards the ball as if they were playing in a Grand Final, collecting Gaff high in the process. The hit left Gaff dazed and potentially concussed.
The game was all but over at three-quarter time as West Coast held a commanding 52 point lead, which begs the question as to why Adam Simpson and his coaching staff let Gaff back onto the field when he had a target on his back?
Gaff should have been kept on the bench by his own team, clearly as he had been emotionally affected by the incident as well as for his own safety. His involvement now only served as a distraction to the game.
to borrow one from Slug Jordan.. get the boy off.
— Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) August 5, 2018
AFL CEO Gil McLachlan has been tentative to introduce a red card system to the sport throughout the past few seasons. In 2016, McLachlan expressed his opposition to the idea.
“I don’t like the red card, I don’t like the send-off rule,” he said.
“There is accountability for people’s actions on-field through the Match Review Panel and the processes we have, and the send-off rule creates a huge issue because of the significance of it, about where it starts and stops.”
McLachlan was responding to the issue after Port Adelaide’s Tom Jonas collected Gaff high after spoiling a marking contest, requiring Gaff to be stretchered from the ground in Round 10, 2016.
The debate regarding the send-off rule now has another added layer as the AFL now must consider the implementation of the rule for the welfare of those responsible for unsportsmanlike acts.
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