Prominent lawyer and East Perth board member Tom Percy has flagged the prospect of criminal charges being laid against West Coast wingman Andrew Gaff for punching Fremantle opponent Andrew Brayshaw in the western derby.

While Gaff is sure to be sent directly to the AFL Tribunal when match review officer Michael Christian assesses the incident today, Mr Percy, a foundation member of the Dockers, said there appeared to be enough evidence for a criminal investigation.

Gaff could be banned for six weeks, meaning that the free agent may not play for the Eagles again if he moves to another club next year.

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And Mr Percy said Gaff should get a life ban from the AFL for an incident that he described as a “cowardly assault”.

“Andrew Gaff? What can you say?” Percy wrote on Facebook shortly after the game. “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.”

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Mr Percy said Brayshaw was the victim of a cowardly attack.

“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,” Mr Percy said.

Hawthorn great Leigh Matthews was the last AFL player to face criminal charges over an on-field matter when he was charged with grievous bodily harm for punching Geelong’s Neville Bruns in 1985.

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Matthews pleaded guilty and was fined $1000 and was de-registered for four weeks by the sport’s governing body.

Former AFL manager Ali Fahour resigned last year after being charged for punching an opponent unconscious in a suburban football match.

He was fined $5000 but escaped a criminal conviction.

East Perth is aligned to West Coast and host spare Eagles in the WAFL every week. The alignment ends this year.