Aug 6th, 2018

Aug 6th, 2018

Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson has confirmed they will ‘make an assessment’ on the king hit from West Coast Eagles Andrew Gaff that left Fremantle Dockers teenager Andrew Brayshaw with a broken jaw and four displaced teeth.

Gaff is expected to receive a lengthy ban over the incident, which occurred in the third quarter of the Eagles’ win over the Dockers on Sunday, when he fronts the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night while Brayshaw’s season is over after he underwent surgery to repair his jaw.

The incident has been widely condemned, and even prompted prominent lawyer Tom Percy QC, a foundation member for the Dockers to flag the prospect that Gaff could face criminal charges for the ‘cowardly assault’.

Commissioner Dawson told Perth Now it was rare for police to step in on incidents that occurred on a sporting field but they would make an assessment as it was a matter of ‘public interest.’

((Getty)) West Coast Eagles' Andrew Gaff reacts after his hit on Fremantle Dockers' Andrew Brayshaw. (Getty)

“No one likes to see hits like that in competitive sport,” Mr Dawson said.

“It is rare for Police to lay criminal charges as a result of an incident in a professional competitive sporting event.

“Physical contact on the footy field is expected. The central issue here is what should be governed by the sporting code and what falls within the criminal realm.

“We will make an assessment on this incident as we would with other matters of public interest, and we would encourage any parties directly connected and concerned with this matter to contact WA Police Force.”

(AAP) Andrew Brayshaw is treated on the field after being king hit. (AAP)

Percy was scathing of the incident in a Facebook post on Monday and said that Gaff should face a life ban over it.

"Andrew Gaff? What can you say?" Percy wrote.

"He doesn't deserve to play AFL again. Ever. (There is) a prima facie case for a police investigation. I've had people go to jail for less.

"Why would a football score be more important than the health and wellbeing of an innocent young man who is in hospital as a result of a cowardly assault he didn’t provoke?"

Gaff, a Brownlow Medal fancy, is facing a lengthy ban when he fronts the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night after it was graded as intentional with severe impact to the head.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon compared the incident to Barry Hall's punch on Brent Staker in 2008 which saw the Sydney Swans forward banned for seven weeks.

It also emerged that Gaff and Brayshaw had played golf together only days before the incident. Brayshaw's older brother, Hamish, is a teammate of Gaff's at the West Coast Eagles.

Gaff has apologised for the incident which Eagles coach Adam Simpson has described as a chest punch gone wrong.

I just want to apologise to Andy," a remorseful Gaff told Fox Sports.

"I feel sick. I did the wrong thing and it doesn't indicate my character.

"My only thought is how Andy is and what will happen (to me) will happen."