Lucifers Hero

Not sure where that idea comes from. Jesse won't be a free agent until the END of 2021!!!! He was pre-listed for 2013. Joined the AFL list for 2014. After 8 years on AFL list, player becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent. Other than media musings there is no indication at all that he wants to leave the Dees. Only if he wants to go will he get traded. There is no reason for the club to push him into a trade.

Kudos @Dr.Dfor being a good sport and accepting that avatar. Unlike another poster who reneged on a similar deal to accept an Oscar Mc avatar when Oscar came good and said poster praised Oscar last year. I won't out said poster (others might) but he knows who he is...

His dad's health issues may have been know and stressing Gaff when he had the rare brain snap. So his dad and family may be the clincher to bring him back. Then Dees vs North? Surely, its a no-brainer: play for Goodwin or Mr Sourpuss Scott!!

Played 15 games. Shame he didn't get a Rising Star nomination.

The club would have been looking/talking to Gaff for the past year. But now, I would say the development of Harmes and Brayshaw thave reduced our need for Gaff, especially if we had to break the bank to get him. Use the money to keep the talent we have which still has so much upside.

Goodwin just said on OTC that Jesse isn't going anywhere. 'He is Melbourne through and through.' There were no weasel words around it. He was very clear and definitive. Jesse stays!

I assume the 'Minor Premiership' is ending the H&A season on top of the ladder? So, is it time to add 'Win a Premiership'?

I'm worried about the report from a reputable poster that Sam may ask for a trade to Geelong because he can't get enough opportunities in the seniors. Can see his point with Hogan and Tommy in front of the sticks. But Crikey, I hope we find a regular spot for young Sam as would hate for him to go. A terrific fighting game from him today. And great back up for Max.

Reports are WCE have offered $850k and North are offering $1.m+ Given club comments that we have the sal cap for 2 A graders we could offer somewhere in that range. An offer needs to be one that WCE won't be able to 'virtually' match (that would allow them to force a trade ala Dangerfield). The club narrative has been about a balance across player payments. So even tho we may have the sal cap we may not be prepared to upset that balance and risk existing players being offside or risk not being able to afford our players coming out of contract next year (s). Hopefully, we have someone else in the pipeline if we miss Gaff.

A guy called Brad Hardie reckons Gaff is a good chance to go to Ess: "Right now the Bombers might be the most intriguing of them. (North. Ess. Melb). My information is that Gaff met with them twice last week and John Worsfold is the bloke who gave him his start in the league." https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/west-coast-eagles/brad-hardie-andrew-gaff-in-crosshairs-for-wooshas-bombers-ng-b88927628z Does this Hardie guy have reasonable credibility? If we don't get Gaff I hope we have someone else in the pipeline as our loses show we desperately need someone who is a very good kick.

Last year the sal cap went up by $2+m per annum. North didn't use it all. New cap is $12.6m @95% they can save $630k per annum and stockpile. So $630k becomes $1.26m then $1.71m. So they could easily have a 'war chest' of around $1.0 - 1.5m just from stockpiling. Not sure how many years it can be stockpiled - it used to be 3 years but don't know now.

This is where we differ. I think Mr and Mrs Brayshaw would be equally magnanimous if it was a player from a team that had no connection to any of their sons. Or heaven forbid, if anything happened to their eldest son, Will who is currently on active duty in Afghanistan representing our country. I truly don't think diplomacy has anything to do with thow they have conducted themselves in recent days (or ever). Just my thoughts.

The important people in this (the Brayshaw family) have forgiven. I found the conversation between Mark Brayshaw and Gaff's dad (who rang to apologise) quite moving. Both fathers and families have shown great understanding and are role models for others who find themselves in very difficult circumstances with their children. If the Brayshaws can move on surely the rest of us can be equally forgiving - even if some with elephant like memories never forget.

I too feel for Gaff for a number of reasons: He is genuinely heartbroken for the incident. He knows what it is like to be the victim. 2 years ago he was on the receiving end of a Jonas elbow to his head. It was in a marking contest but Gaff had no idea it was coming. Jonas got 6 weeks. Some argued it should have been 8. He now has 8 months to sweat it out before taking the field again and have a chance to redeem his reputation. Players play to participate in finals and hopefully win a premiership. Missing 2 to 4 finals is a bigger penalty than 8 home and away games. On DL we are especially emotional over this incdent because Andy is Gus' little bro and most are keenly interested in getting Gaff to our club. Any other two players from other clubs and I doubt it would have anywhere near as much attention. Gaff at the Dees? I think he fits the Goodwin type player of tough, competitive and humble. The way he has conducted himself in the aftermath of a very sad episode says a lot about his character. Edit: Thanks @MSFebeyfor adding the video of the Jonas/Gaff incident in post below. Gaff was out cold before he hit the ground and stayed there for a very long time. A player does not easily forget the damage a hit to the head can do. Gaff's remorse is especially compelling in the circumstances.

It was Ross Lyon that gave Gaff the 4 coaches votes!! http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-07/theres-no-winners-here-lyon-on-gaff-ban Lyon was clearly emotional in his press conf but didn't let that affect his judgement. Second best on the ground, he said so he got the 4 votes. Simpson on the other hand didn't give him a single vote - didn't rate Gaff's game/performance.

Again, that is true. I was referring to Gaff's reaction (none too happy with Simmo) and how it might affect his decision to stay or go.

Gaff's lawyers 'Great Gaffe' - Grace just said: "My submission is you should impose a penalty at the lower end of the range, which commences at three years... I mean three weeks." OOps, that is a serious freudian slip!!

That may be true but it probably won't endear Simmo to Gaff. So I was using it as an example to add to Mach5's hint that the way WCE have handled this would make Gaff more likely to leave.

Funny you should say that - At the hearing Gaff said "I felt sick ... i was shattered. I never intended for this to happen. It was a time on the bench where you gather your thoughts and I was heartbroken. The coach talked to me and tried to keep me focussed on the rest of the game. I was rattled. I said to him 'mate I'm rattled'. No compassion from Simmo for Brayshaw or Gaff which proabably wouldn't sit well with the Gaff camp either. Eagles had the game won, there was no need for Simmo to 're-focus' him.

I didn't have the same take of Gus' comments, tbh. But Gus was very strong on the penalty. Gus said: "I will be very upset if he gets less than 7 weeks, very upset." @ about the 10.00 minute mark of the podcast. Gus is clearly and rightly not happy. Edit: Gus also said that his brother, Andrew did not play golf with Gaff last week...

My reading is that 'High' means where a player is hit ie above the shoulders. Whereas Low/Medium/Severe refers to extent of damage. So Bugg was Intentional/High/Medium. Gaff is charged with Intentional/High/Severe; a more serious offence. We know there are two rules when it comes to suspensions, one for the 'stars and one for everyone else. I agree less than 8 weeks is wrong on so many levels. Edit: you are correct No 10. The severity rating is Low/Medium/High/Severe. Bugg was rated as 'High'. My bad. We are on the same page thinking Gaff offence was worse than Bugg's so should get a higher penalty.

Given that Bugg got 6 weeks (reduced from 7 for pleading guilty) for "intentional, medium impact" and Gaff is charged with the more serious "intentional, severe impact" Gaff must get more than 6/7 weeks or it makes a mockery of the whole system. As WCE are set to challenge and if Gaff is found guilty as charged he should not be given any penalty discount. The Bugg discount was for pleading guilty not for showing remorse (which he did in spades), nor for a good MRP record. The AFL is carrying on about the 'Look of the Game'. It doesn't look too good when a kid goes off the field with his face punched in. If they really care about the 'look' and the impact of the Gaff incident on junior football then they cannot allow a reduced penalty. If the penalty is less than 8 weeks the AFL should appeal.

Wouldn't it be ironic (or poetic justice) if Andy's older brother Hamish debuts for Eagles to replace Gaff!

After the horrid picture of the aftermath it is good to see a smile on the young fella (taken while he was in the ambulance). Courage runs deep in the Brayshaw family.

Bugg actually got a lot more than 6 weeks - he has played only 3 games since and it seems he is unlikely to play for us again. Maybe the Mills incident dented his confidence. Maybe the club's NDH policy has sidelined him. Gaff is a much better player than Bugg so not sure if mfc would apply the same NDH policy. I would like to think we are consistent. Given last year's delist/trade decisions and this year's (non) selection decisions there is every indication mfc still values the NDH policy. Notwithstanding how distressing this is for everyone involved, I doubt if it would affect the club's decision on Gaff. It seems more of an aberration than a character flaw.