Fremantle coach Ross Lyon still thinks Andrew Gaff is a champion of the game and a good person despite his brutal punch on Andrew Brayshaw.
The fallout from last week’s fiery western derby has dominated headlines since Sunday, with West Coast’s Gaff handed an eight-week ban for breaking the jaw of Brayshaw.
Brayshaw says he has forgiven Gaff over the incident, and hopes the two can now move on with their lives.
Fremantle players were left seething by Gaff’s off-the-ball hit, and they vented their frustrations against Eagles players in the derby.
Lyon was also left fuming after the game, labelling Gaff’s punch a “king hit”.
Before last week’s derby, Lyon described Gaff as a star player and a humble person.
He also went on to say that he hoped players like of Adam Cerra and Brayshaw could one day develop into somebody like Gaff.
Lyon still thinks of Gaff as a “champion of the game” despite what happened in the derby.
“He’s a good person that had a bad moment,” Lyon said on Friday.
“He stacked thousands, millions, of great moments. He had a bad moment, and unfortunately he’s paid the price for it.”
Brayshaw has flown back to Melbourne to continue his recovery under the care of his parents.
Lyon doesn’t want his players to bombard Brayshaw with messages while he’s away from the club.
“Those close to Andy talk to him, those that aren’t leave him alone, because every interaction can be draining,” Lyon said.
“I’m sure he’s had thousands of blokes he went to school with (like those) in grade two contact him. In the end he just needs time and space.”
Lyon said it was important for his players to turn their full attention to Sunday’s home clash with last-placed Carlton at Optus Stadium.
“It’s a potential distraction if you let it be. We’ve got to let it fuel our preparation and desire to perform well,” Lyon said.
“In the end the outcome (and) what we produce on the weekend will maybe tell us (whether we) have been distracted, or have we been hard-nosed pros and got on with it.”
Lyon has made five changes from last week’s derby, with Brayshaw (jaw), Darcy Tucker (back), and Stephen Hill (quad) ruled out, and Brandon Matera and Mitchell Crowden axed.
Mature-age goalsneak Sam Switkowski will become Fremantle’s eighth debutant this year, while Taylin Duman, Tommy Sheridan, Ryan Nyhuis, and Stefan Giro have earned recalls.
Carlton welcome back ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, Sam Kerridge, and Jack Silvagni.
Nick Graham and Cameron O’Shea were axed following last week’s 105-point loss to GWS, while Matthew Kennedy has succumbed to an ankle injury.