The more I think about it, the more I think the AFL will throw the book at Gaff. Firstly (and cynically) he's not from a Melbourne club. But more importantly, they will realise that parents won't want their kids to play AFL if this sort of thing goes on. That Gaff's actions threaten the future of the game. Its one thing to accept that there is a risk in going hard at a contest. Its another altogether to accept that you might get your face caved in 100m off the ball just because you happened to be annoying some bloke.
Freo often get criticised when the club doesn't stand up for one of ours when they are suspended. But realistically, the club is following the "do the crime, do the time" model. West Coast more typically adopts the approach of the Kizon's of the world - get expensive lawyers and fight it, no matter how obviously guilty you are.
In this one, if West Coast try to defend it, I hope the AFL responds by increasing the sanction.
