ANDREW Gaff remains out of the WA spotlight in Melbourne as attention turns back to his playing future a day after his historic eight-game suspension was handed down.
Gaff's agent Paul Connors was by his side at Tuesday night's AFL Tribunal hearing, and on Wednesday morning conceded he was unsure what impact the incident would have on his client's future.
"I just don’t know," Connors told SEN radio.
Gaff was banned by the tribunal for his strike on Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw's, which broke the young Docker's jaw and displaced several teeth.
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Gaff is out of contract at season's end, and a restricted free agent. The 26-year-old has been linked to a number of clubs in Victoria, including Melbourne, where Andrew Brayshaw's older brother Angus plays.
Whether Gaff is playing at West Coast next year or somewhere else, he certainly won't be available for the opening round of the season, with how much of next season he misses depending on the Eagles' September campaign.
Connors said he would let the dust settle before moving forward with contract talks.
"It is certainly not a topic I've even gone close to after the last 48 hours and it probably won't be for another week," Connors said.
"I think West Coast would respect Andrew's welfare as the most important thing at the moment … just let him spend some time with his family and come to grips with what he faces over the next couple of months."
After days of intense scrutiny Gaff is staying with his parents in Melbourne, away from the glare of Perth.
"He is at home now, he will stay for a few days and head back (west)," Connors explained.
Connors wants arrangements to be made for Gaff and Brayshaw to catch up in person.
"I love the idea that Hamish Brayshaw (a West Coast teammate of Gaff's) will hopefully connect both Andrew and Andrew.
"For them, hopefully they can move forward. I think it will be a nice time to heal.
"Andrew Gaff is an outstanding person who made a terrible mistake.
"Hopefully it won't define him. I've been in the game a long time and he is one of the most calm and really gentle, beautiful people I know.
"That's made it even harder for everyone concerned.
"His (Gaff's) pain is the suffering he has caused Andrew (Brayshaw).
"That's genuine and heartfelt.
"I spent a lot of time yesterday, I drove him and his family home, and it was a very quiet, sombre drive home. I promise you, there wasn't much talking."
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