An AFL star has been suspended for eight weeks after brutally punching a teenage opponent in the face so hard he broke his jaw.
Andrew Gaff pleaded guilty to intentionally striking Andrew Brayshaw in the face during a game between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers on Sunday.
At an AFL Tribunal hearing in Melbourne on Tuesday night, Gaff admitted to the offence while being supported by his father Paul.
Brayshaw, 18, will require dental implants after the attack which left his teeth ‘hinged backwards a couple of centimetres into his mouth’, according to his medical report.
He will have to have three of his teeth which are ‘effectively dead’ removed as a result of the punch.
Gaff’s suspension means he will be unable to play for the Eagles in 2018.
Andrew Gaff pleaded guilty to intentionally striking Andrew Brayshaw in the face during a game between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers


Andrew Brayshaw (left on the way to hospital) will miss the rest of the season after the sickening punch (right)
After the suspension was announced, Gaff said he would surround himself with friends and family, and apologised to Brayshaw.
‘I see myself as a caring, gentle and measured person. I am disappointed in myself, I’m disappointed to let my teammates down in a crucial period of the season. I’m disappointed to have let our supporters down as well,’ he said.
‘I’m so sorry to Andrew Brayshaw and the Brayshaw family. I own my actions and it really hurts a lot. The last 48 hours have been the toughest time of my life.’
Fremantle team doctor Ken Withers said Brayshaw faced an extensive recovery period.
‘It may take several months, with the teeth perhaps turning black. It may include dental work… including root canal therapy right up to possible implants,’ Withers said.
Footage of the shocking incident was played on a repeated loop at the hearing and Gaff looked visibly upset, news.com.au reported.
QC David Grace asked Gaff if he had been reported, fined or reprimanded during his career, to which Gaff replied: ‘Not once’.
Gaff said he is often targeted by other players due to his running ability, and that he experienced ‘close attention’ in the game against Fremantle.
He said he ‘felt sick’ that he had punched him in the face, and instead intended to hit him in the chest.
‘It seems like he’s put his foot forward and planted and in a split second, his body has lowered significantly and in meaning to hit him in the chest, I’ve hit him in the face.’
Gaff told the tribunal he was in tears on the bench after the punch.
‘I’m devastated. I’m shattered… the main person I feel for is Andrew.
‘He’s not going to be able to play for the next few weeks and is a young guy making his way into the AFL and it’s something very out of character for me and it’s a very hard pill to swallow and it’s something that has really hit me hard.’

Brayshaw, 18, will require dental implants after the attack which left his teeth ‘hinged backwards a couple of centimetres into his mouth’, according to his medical report
AFL counsel Jeff Gleeson QC argued Gaff knew Brayshaw’s head was lower than his when he swung his arm — a claim Gaff refuted.
Gaff’s character references including Eagles captain Shannon Hurn and assistant coach Dean Cox said he plays in the spirit of the game.
‘I was shocked. He is the last person on a football list I thought would partake in such an act,’ Cox said.
The AFL recommended a suspension of between eight and 12 weeeks.
‘Andrew Gaff looked at Brayshaw, squared himself, and threw a punch. Notwithstanding his evidence, he did indeed intend to strike Brayshaw in the head,’ Gleeson said.
Grace said an eight to 12 week suspension would be ‘manifestly excessive’.
Gaff will also miss the beginning of next season as a result of his suspension.

The Dockers trainer immediately signalled to medical staff that there was an issue with Brayshaw’s teeth