This is not about putting Andrew Gaff’s horrific punch to 18 year old Andrew Brayshaw’s jaw into any lesser light – it was a nightmare act of thuggery that regardless of Gaff’s character constitutes a harsh penalty at the tribunal.
This article is actually about the bizarre scenes that unfolded for the remainder of the game, that without perspective, may appear completely ridiculous.
First and foremost, we can only hope Andrew Brayshaw can recover quickly and without complication. A terrible incident on a first-year player.
During the game social media was alight with harsh criticism of the punch, some offering up character references of a sort and lots of speculation on the length of the ban to be imposed.
Tom Bugg was a commonly used reference point. Another section of the social media wildfire was the seeming disgust at the West Coast fan-base’s response.
One of the games most well-respected voices Terry Wallace, a very prominent Twitter user, couldn’t fathom Eagles fans’ reaction, noting “unbridled over-reactive support of an action that cannot be condoned”.
The Roar’s own Glenn Mitchell was highly critical, calling West Coast fans “simply ridiculous” for their uproarious support of Gaff for the remainder of the match. There were many similar themes on Twitter and other social media platforms.
I’m a West Coast fan and was at the game. West Coast fans have their trigger points (like many fan-bases I might add) that to the outsider makes them either appear woefully ill-informed, arrogant or just downright absurd.
West Coast fans are the league’s worst at interpreting the deliberate out of bounds rule. I’ll never push back on that criticism – it drives me crazy.
Another big no-go is any criticism of Nic Naitanui, under any circumstance. Even when un-categorically warranted, going down that path with an Eagles fan would be the equivalent of slapping yourself in the face with a dead fish. A no-winner.
And of course there was the outright stupidity of booing Adam Goodes, which tarnishes anyone who wears blue and gold.
However the reaction to Andrew Gaff, on this occasion, was a genuine case of things not truly being as they appear.
When Gaff took a mark in the 17th minute of the fourth term, Eagles fans rose in solidarity as he kicked truly and heaped more pain on fans in purple.
To the outside, this act of hero-worship could have come across as somewhere between endorsing thuggery and supporting gutless violence.
A one-eyed display of thickheadedness from a collective fan base, which if true would rightly appal the outside world.
However, I am not so sure this is a true reflection of what played out inside the stadium.
At home, wherever that is around the country, those viewing on television would have had access to countless replays within seconds, and even more discussion on the incident.
Judgements were being formed within minutes of the action and commentary would have centred on it for the remainder of the game – particularly given the scoreline.
However, at the ground, there was not a single replay on the big screens, and only a short break in play as Brayshaw came off the ground – the incident being away from the eyes of a majority of those in the stadium.
I didn’t know about it until being informed via group chats by those watching at home. It wasn’t until three-quarter time that I tracked down a replay via twitter.
What wasn’t lost on Eagles supporters was the ferocity of which the Dockers players committed to attacking Andrew Gaff in general play shortly thereafter.
Not immediately after, again as the incident wasn’t categorically noticed, but within minutes – obviously the message being relayed around the playing group.
To the fans in the stadium, the only thing that was clear was that the Dockers players had a specific target on Andrew Gaff’s head, and every other part of his body.
He was belted at every possible turn, perhaps even some hits to come under MRO scrutiny in their own right.
When Gaff appeared to rise through this, without perspective of the previous incident this would appear as somewhat of a triumph worth noting. Again, emphasis on “without perspective”.
I am not for a moment defending the Gaff hit. He will cop his whack at the tribunal. His remorse is palpable, but doesn’t un-break a jaw. I rarely defend Eagles supporters for their collective craziness.
However in this instance, I suspect that the 57,000 people in attendance were for the most part on a completely different information paradigm than those watching at home. This goes some way to explaining the seemingly bizarre scenes at the ground.
Many will think that the information gap might have been collectively overcome via social media during the remainder of the game.
While that was probably true for some, the reality is during games there is rarely much time to check messages, let alone take in anything meaningfully.
The fact that West Coast has probably one of the oldest fan bases in terms of average age of attendee likely doesn’t help.
This article itself may come across as narrow minded and ill-informed. I’m just giving a perspective on what I interpreted at the ground.
A replay at the time might have changed everything, or might have changed nothing. Eagles fans might have covered themselves with the proverbial regardless.
However in the microcosm of Perth Stadium in real time, I suspect all was not quite as it seemed to the outside world looking in.
Chris
Guest
Who needs mates like Gaff? Enemy may be a fitter word!
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Having now had the better part of a day to hear the extraordinary lengths some are going to diminish the incident, I have to retract this comment.
Chris
Guest
Epilogue: Gaff returns to Perth to play against his old mates and is well-received by his former fellow gladiators and blood-thirsty spectators. When required to meet Fremantle he is either injured or managed! YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!!!!
Alastair
Guest
to call the incident thuggery is just madness, take a look at the replay, slo mo or even pause if you have to... the only reason the hit connect the face was because he ducked into it. Gaffs fist never comes above his own pectoral maybe even just up to it, it was just another chest punch like the 50+ that happen in every single game we watch. Bradshaw simply dropped into it during a direction change.... just bad luck. Gaff deserves the suspension for the strike but not to be treated like a criminal for something that is clearly an accident being blown out of proportion by people that freak out over a bit of blood, accidents happen every day (aren’t these guys mates?)
anon
Roar Pro
They noticed when Vickery clocked Cox. Weren't shy in letting their feelings be known to Vickery.
Alicesprings
Guest
Imagine if it was a freo home game!!..could of almost caused a pitch invasion. Would like to see some data on reports in relation to home grounds advantage. I’d argue Gaff wouldn’t have had the same brain snap if it was a freo home game. Nothing like a bit of false bravado when you’ve got 60k people behind you.
Alastair
Guest
errrrrrr... 2 team town mate..... not sure if you noticed buuuut they were actually playing other dude.
Chris
Guest
P.S. Terry Wallace's Bodyguards provide the ideal priotection to sportsmen from opposition fans and aggrieved opponents who have scores to settle. Feel free to consult me on SEN Radio!
Chris
Guest
Terry Wallace has just given Gaf the perfect excuse to come to Melbourne and join Melbourne or Hawtghorn. "It's unsafe for Gaff to walk the streets of Perth!" The poor guy needs to relocate to avoid getting king-hit himself!
Alastair
Guest
to call the incident thuggery is just a case of blind ignorance, take a look at the replay, slo mo or even pause if you have to... the only reason the hit connect the face was because he ducked into it. Gaffs fist never comes above his own pectoral maybe even just up to it, it was just another chest punch like the 50+ that happen in every single game we watch. Bradshaw simply dropped into it during a direction change.... just bad luck. Gaff deserves the suspension for the strike but not to be treated like a criminal for something that is clearly an accident being blown out of proportion by a bunch of nancy’s that freak out over a bit of blood, accidents happen every day (aren’t these guys mates?) what this country coming to?
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Bad move by Gaff was he provoked of course did he intend to land a punch on the boys jaw probably not is this any worse than Barry Hall Tony Lockett need I go on no way and look at how they were adored by the Victorians imainly although I know both ended up playing for Sydney also Ablett knocking out Don Pyke. Gaff will be rightly banned for as long as need be but the rest is just overhyped frenzy get a grip. At least he is showing remorse what about Lockett and Hall no chance in helll they would show any remorse.
Luke
Guest
Send him to Jail - you've gone off on a tangent there Liam. I never said anything about Jail or are you just shooting from the hip in all directions without any thought? So you think it was right that the WCE players, most enthusiastically celebrated play of the game was Gaff's 4th quarter goal then Liam? Interesting outlook on life....... Funny how the rhetoric has changed since Barry Hall.! If the Management of the WCE had an ounce of integrity they wouldn't have let him back on the field.... I'm not sure where you sit on the spectrum?
Peter
Guest
It seems to me that the one and only job of the coach and the players is to win the game. That is what they are paid for. I doubt that the club Board is remotely interested in anything else. Gaff would only have been taken off if this somehow improved the Eagles prospects of winning. It is also way past time tagging was rubbed out. I recall Riewoldt playing on with a broken hand and his Footscray tagged slapping the broken hand every ten seconds for twenty minutes. Thecommentators loved him for it.
Larry1950
Guest
I'm sure over the next few days we'll see the well-worn excuses from various code identities asserting that " those actions are out of character for Gaff", however, since he did it, it appears to be in his character. If it happened on the street he'd do time, gutless effort on a first year player who was obviously annoying him. Sadly, the old fashioned square up has been eradicated from the game, in this case it might have been fair and just.
Liam
Guest
Misread the initial post, thought you'd said that the announcement would be followed with footage of the incident.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
There was no particular incitement in the brawls in the crowd that have occurred this year. This is hypothetical as no replay exists. The AFL can't be afraid to offend home town supporters. As I say a replay at the ground is optional. All the other major codes in this country would have sent him off and no one but an idiot would have disputed it.
B Emery
Guest
I am not condoning the action, (as we were all up in arms when Barry Hall did it to Brent Staker), but I ask what made a ball player all his career take such action??? He is not a Barry Hall!!!
Yakfat
Roar Rookie
"Not one eyewitness in 57,375 spectators is hard to believe" They have form - Seaby fractured Sandi's jaw in 2006 and no Eagle supporters at the ground saw anything.
Downsey
Guest
I find it hard to believe because it's not plausible that 'no one knew' or even that few people knew. Sure the crowd could have been unaware in the moment, even unaware for the remainder of the third quarter, but by the fourth it seems hinky to me that the majority weren't all over it. I go to most Fremantle home games and I don't know any of the members who I sit with, but about 20 or so of us still keep each other well informed of situations that arise like this. I'd expect this'd be similar for WCE members, even if you're just over-hearing the information being passed around.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I'm intrigued. So it's accepted the Freo players got stuck into Gaff because of the hit yet no spectator at the ground saw the hit? How did Freo know who to target? Did the Freo physio who was first out see the hit? Or was she just responding to a player being down? Is it because Brayshaw identified him? Is it because their boy was down and they went looking for the culprit by a method of elimination? Not one eyewitness in 57,375 spectators is hard to believe.