Not a big fan of AFL, but I was disgusted in the actions of first grade player Andrew Gaff, who punched opponent Andrew Brayshaw in the face breaking Brayshaw's jaw and knocking out his teeth.
The penalty for this criminal action, Gaff can sit on the side line for the next eight weeks. If this had taken place anywhere else Gaff would be looking at criminal charges. Is the footy field some sort of special place where anything goes, and you get away with it.

My opinion; This bloke should be up on criminal charges just like any other Australian would be if they did the same thing.

So Paul 1404

You would like to see lawyers and police involved in refereeing football games...

That's the Greens for you!

Sorry, Paul 1405..not 1404.

That's a subliminal slip. I've made you walk home the last hundred yards as a penalty for stupid thinking Paul.

Punching another person is assault, no matter where it occurs. But, AFL, more than ever before, is a very violent activity just lacking the lions, weapons and nets of the gladitorial events the sent the ancient Romans into a frenzy. The only other difference between the two events is that the Roman spectators didn't brawl among themselves unlike many of the drunks watching football.

Dear PAul1405,

Gaff had never once in his football career ever fronted a tribunal for any form of misconduct including all his years in the juniors. Those who coached him regarded him as an extremely fair player. His claim that he was looking to hit his opponent in the chest can not be fully discounted by the video.

However a young first year player did receive some pretty confronting damage which has effectively ended his season.

Intent and prior behavior are a huge part of any police involvement. For instance if a tooth is knocked out by a raised stick in a hockey game should the police automatically be called?

Indeed by your definition wouldn't boxing matches be halted seconds into the first round and charges laid?

Contact sports do carry a real risk of injury.

I certainly feel the league has been lax on policing body shots and they have become the norm. This may well have had a factor. I think there is a lot the administrators of the game can do to change behaviour and better protect players. But no, I don't believe police charges should be automatic.

If this had happened in front of a night club at 2.00 AM in the morning, Gaff would definitely be up on charges.

The Queensland tax payer has spent a lot of money in government advertising pushing the "one punch can kill" message, to try to reduce drunken thug like behaviour, the fact that this bloke was not drunk makes it much worse in my opinion.

He should have the book, both the AFL & the law books thrown at him, & have a much longer suspension, that of 6 months in prison.

How the hell do you expect to stop drunken thugs doing this in the street, if it is served up on TV in "GAMES" with no suitable punishment?