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Eagles' Brayshaw jibe 'poor taste': Gaff

3 minute read

Andrew Gaff's punch on Andrew Brayshaw was back in the spotlight this week when West Coast's Nathan Vardy used the incident as part of an AFL training jibe.

ANDREW GAFF of the Eagles passes the ball during the AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia.
ANDREW GAFF of the Eagles passes the ball during the AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Andrew Gaff says teammate Nathan Vardy's jibe about Andrew Brayshaw was in poor taste, with West Coast quick to offer a public apology to the young Fremantle midfielder.

The Eagles uploaded a video of Gaff taking a shot at goal on his birthday - for which he had to spin around 10 times before attempting to nail the kick.

The video shows Eagles players doing their best to put Gaff off by throwing footballs at him and yelling out various things.

Vardy twice yells out the name "Andrew Brayshaw".

The sledge was in reference to an incident last year when Gaff broke Brayshaw's jaw and shattered several teeth with an off-the-ball punch.

Gaff ended up missing West Coast's premiership through suspension, while Brayshaw was ruled out of the remainder of the season and still requires more dental work.

The pair made their peace in the weeks after the incident, meeting socially and sharing a handshake before a pre-season game this year.

But Dockers coach Ross Lyon expressed his disappointment on Tuesday night after being made aware of the video in which Brayshaw's name was used as a jibe.

Gaff also wasn't happy.

"It's disappointing," Gaff told Perth radio station Mix 94.5 on Wednesday.

"I didn't know about it until I got the call at 5.30 last night.

"I didn't hear it (at the time). It's disappointing no doubt. It's poor taste. It's disrespectful to Andrew more than it is to me.

"I'll have a chat to, if we know who it is, at training today. We want to apologise as a club for that.

"It shouldn't have happened."

Eagles coach Adam Simpson also apologised on behalf of the club.

"Really disappointing for us," he said.

"That was a mistake, and we apologise to Andrew and his family and to Fremantle as well.

"It was inappropriate and we shouldn't have done it."

When asked whether Vardy would face any sanctions, Simpson replied: "We need to look at that.

"It's not something we condone. We'll work through that with our leaders.

"We need to educate them."

Vardy will miss Thursday night's clash with Essendon after being suspended for a bump that resulted in a clash of heads with Sydney's Jackson Thurlow.

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