Mayor Ken Clarke hopes young football players can learn from the “sickening” sight of Andrew Brayshaw’s jaw being broken as a result of an Andrew Gaff punch.
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The Wangaratta councillor has been a footy fan since the “tough of furious” days of VFL in the 1940s.
“I was sickened by the sight I witnessed on Sunday afternoon in Perth,” he said.
“I remember the likes of Jack Dyer, Mopsy Fraser, Lindsay Fox and John Nichols, all who would literally run through a brick wall, but the game was a lot slower then, and there was only an odd occasion of facial injury.
“I do not condone what this young man has done to a teenager, but he has been meted out his punishment.
“I am highlighting this in the hope that our own local sportsmen and women, young and old, will think twice about the contact they make with an opponent during the course of a game.”
Cr Clarke said he also sympathised with umpires who copped abuse, which had led to a shortage in football.
“I continually hear around the city of a lack of umpires prepared to cop the abuse and threats from those, many who are paid large sums to pull on the boots, and would rather read a book than be involved,” he said.
