The only player in AFL history to be charged by police for an on-field incident has backed the right of police to investigate such acts and take action when appropriate.
AFL legend Leigh Matthews was charged and fined over a clash during a 1985 game, though he successfully challenged that sanction in court.
The former Hawthorn premiership captain, who went on to coach Collingwood and Brisbane to premierships, was not urging police to take action over the king hit by West Coast’s Andrew Gaff on Fremantle Dockers youngster Andrew Brayshaw at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Sunday, but agreed they had the right to do so.
Gaff will front the AFL tribunal on Tuesday and faces a lengthy suspension over the ugly off-the-ball incident that broke Brayshaw’s jaw.
Matthews is the only player in VFL-AFL history to face police charges for an ugly on-field incident in an infamous game against Geelong during his last season playing for Hawthorn in 1985.
AFL playing and coaching legend Leigh Matthews (circled top right) remains the only player in the history of the code to be charged by police for an on-field incident

The 1985 incident has similarities to Sunday’s incident, where Fremantle rookie Andrew Brayshaw (left) was felled to the ground by a hit from West Coast Eagles rival Andrew Gaff (right) in an off the ball incident
The 332 game legend broke the jaw of Geelong opponent Neville Bruns in an off-the-ball king-hit, sparking ugly scenes that saw Matthews immediately bloodied and concussed in retaliatory action.
Matthews was deregistered by the league for four weeks, charged by Victoria Police, convicted and fined $1000.
The conviction was overturned on appeal and Matthews was given a 12-month good behaviour bond.
‘You don’t have to have a complainant for the police to take action – there was no complaint with me 30-odd years ago by the victim player, Neville Bruns, but that didn’t stop the police from doing the investigation because you have got the clear evidence,’ the four-time premiership winning coach told Macquarie Sports Radio on Monday.

The infamous punch thrown by Leigh Matthews broke the jaw of Geelong Cats opponent Neville Bruns (pictured)

Leigh Matthews (pictured in his coaching days with the Brisbane Lions) has echoed growing calls for a send-off rule to be introduced
‘I thought footy back then, you were putting yourself almost into war without weapons but clearly now, maybe it’s the vision part of it, I am not saying the police should (be involved) but the option is available because you are not outside the law of the land.’
Matthews said Gaff deserved a ‘significant’ suspension of 6-7 weeks.
‘This is the third incident this year in a couple of months where the send-off rule should have applied,’ he said.
‘Andrew Gaff is going to be the one that’s going to be mortally wounded for the rest of his life. The guilt and the shame will live with Andrew Gaff for the rest of his life.’
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson told WAtoday it will assess the incident.
But he added it was rare for police to lay charges against someone for an incident in a professional sporting event.
‘No one likes to see hits like that in competitive sport,’ Mr Dawson said.
‘The central issue here is what should be governed by the sporting code and what falls within the criminal realm.’

The Leigh Matthews incident in 1985 sparked an all-in brawl, where Matthews had to be helped from the field. He was later deregistered by league for four matches

Brayshaw will miss the rest of his rookie season after the sickening punch, which left him requiring surgery
Prominent lawyer and Fremantle Dockers foundation member Tom Percy said a criminal investigation against Gaff was needed.
‘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,’ Mr Percy wrote on Facebook.
‘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,’
With blood streaming from his mouth, a distraught Brayshaw spent an extended period lying on the ground and had to be assisted from the field by trainers as his mother watched on in horror from the stands.
The Dockers gave an update on Brayshaw’s condition on Monday morning, confirming he would be out of action for the rest of the season.
‘Andrew Brayshaw had surgery overnight to repair his broken jaw and three displaced lower teeth, which have been put back into place and splinted,’ the club said in a statement, the Herald Sun reported.

His Brownlow Medal hopes now in tatters, an emotional Andrew Gaff (pictured centre) apologised for his uncharacteristic actions afterwards
‘Club medical staff have advised that the surgery went well and Brayshaw is now recovering at home with his parents. He can not eat solid food for four weeks and will not play again this season.’
Dockers coach Ross Lyon didn’t hide his anger in the post-match press conference.
‘Andrew Brayshaw was king hit 100m off the ball,’ he said.
‘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 as I was walking in. So it’s not very palatable. It is very distressing. My senior players certainly wanted retribution and I had to stay out on the ground longer at three-quarter time to settle a couple down and say: ‘don’t bring yourself into disrepute.’
Brayshaw’s brother Angus was ‘rattled’ by the punch, and his mother was in tears while watching it, Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones said.
‘I think (Angus) is a little bit rattled. He’s going to pop over today and do some recovery and I’ll have a chat to him,’ Jones told SEN radio.

The Dockers trainer immediately signalled to medical staff that there was an issue with Brayshaw’s teeth
Lyon compared the incident to former Sydney Swans star Barry Hall’s infamous hit on West Coast’s Brent Staker in 2008.
‘I’m just putting the facts forward. Andrew is unlikely to play again this year. There is certainly a precedent set. I think Barry Hall got seven (weeks),’ Lyon said.
Port Adelaide legend Warren Treadrea agreed.
‘If Barry Hall got 7 weeks for belting Brent Staker in 2008 – Andrew Gaff’s king hit on a first year player – breaking his jaw in two places and dislodging four teeth 10 years later is worth more,’ he tweeted.
An emotional and remorseful Gaff apologised for his actions afterwards.

A bloodied Andrew Brayshaw was taken to hospital not long after the sickening attack

Andrew Brayshaw underwent surgery on his broken jaw on Sunday night and is unlikely to play again his season
A suspension will rule him out for the Brownlow Medal, which he was in contention for.
Gaff has never been suspended or fined in 175 games.
‘I feel sick about it. I did the wrong thing and I’d like to think it doesn’t indicate my character. My main thought is how he is,’ he told Fox Footy.
The incident sent social media into meltdown, where many fans called for the send-off rule to be introduced to the game.
They took to social media to echo Mr Percy’s calls for Gaff to face criminal charges.

The punch on Andrew Brayshaw (pictured) has been compared to Barry Hall’s infamous hit on Brent Staker 10 years ago
‘In my 20 plus years of going to the footy, I have never seen anything like Gaff’s hit on Brayshaw. Is a suspension alone enough for an action that would, off-field, be grievous bodily harm?’ one fan tweeted.
Dockers legend Matthew Pavlich added: ‘Really feel for young Andrew Brayshaw and his family watching on. He is a ripping young lad, was having a great debut year and today was on his way to a NAB Rising star nomination. It was hard to fathom and sickening to see 100m off the ball.’
Eagles fans also come under fire for giving Gaff a standing ovation as he came off the field after the game.
‘I found the last half of the Derby really bizarre. Hero worship and unbridled over reactive support of an action that cannot be condoned,’ wrote on Twitter user.
‘Just a little bit sickening to see West Coast fans cheering Gaff quite so enthusiastically,’ said another.
‘Sorry, but the Eagles fans giving Andrew Gaff a standing ovation when he came off the ground is simply ridiculous,’ said someone else.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon (pictured) was furious about the incident in his post-match press conference
Others cautioned against blaming the fans, and said many of them may have been unaware of the incident.
‘Most at the ground weren’t aware what had happened and the enormity of it,’ said Channel Ten’s Tim Gossage.
‘56,000 fans were supporting Gaff because he was getting heavy treatment. Freo within rights to be angry but fans weren’t aware of incident.’
Eagles coach Adam Simpson questioned whether the hit was intentional.
‘One thing I do know is Andrew’s character and who he is as a person and as a player can’t be questioned. ‘Obviously he’s very emotional and his thoughts are with the Brayshaw family. He’s quite remorseful and his character can’t be questioned,’ he said.
Brayshaw, 18, was the club’s number two draft pick in the AFL draft and has played 16 games for the Dockers this season.
He follows in the footsteps of his two older brothers and father who all played AFL while his uncle James is a radio and television broadcaster and former cricketer.
Brayshaw took to Instagram on Monday afternoon to post a photo of himself smiling in the back of the ambulance and expressed his appreciation for kind words from well-wishers.
‘I’d just like to thank everyone so much for their ongoing support over the last 24 hours,’ Brayshaw wrote.
‘I truly appreciate each and every message that I’ve received and it’s helping keep a smile on my dial.’