Andrew Gaff

Last updated

Andrew Gaff
Andrew Gaff 2019.5.jpg
Gaff playing for West Coast in July 2019
Personal information
Full name Andrew Gaff
Nickname(s) Gaffy
Date of birth (1992-06-16) 16 June 1992 (age 30)
Original team(s) Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 4, 2010 national draft
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club West Coast
Number 3
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2011– West Coast 252 (80)
Representative team honours
YearsTeamGames (Goals)
2020 Victoria 1 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Round 22 2022.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Andrew Gaff (born 16 June 1992) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He plays predominantly as a midfielder.

Contents

Gaff was recruited from the Oakleigh Chargers with the fourth pick in the 2010 National Draft. He made his debut in round one of the 2011 season, and later in the year was nominated for the AFL Rising Star Award. Gaff has been a regular in the West Coast line-up since his debut, and in 2015 played in the club's grand final loss to Hawthorn. He won the John Worsfold Medal as West Coast's best and fairest player that year, and was also named in the 2015 All-Australian team. Gaff placed equal fourth in the 2016 Brownlow Medal. He was named in the 2018 All-Australian team.

Early life

Gaff attended Kew East Primary School until 2004 [1] and Carey Baptist Grammar School in his high school years. He starred in the Carey First XVIII football team as a hard-running midfielder who proved to be a prolific goalkicker.

Originally from the Kew Comets Junior Football Club in the Yarra Junior Football League, Gaff played in the TAC Cup with the Oakleigh Chargers. before being selected with the fourth pick overall in the 2010 National Draft by the West Coast Eagles. Recognised as one of the best prospects in his draft year, Gaff was renowned for his endurance, work ethic, kicking and ability to accumulate possessions. [2]

Growing up, Gaff supported the Melbourne Football Club, and attended the 2000 AFL Grand Final as a spectator in which they lost to Essendon by 60 points. [3]

AFL career

Gaff played his first game for the Eagles in the pool round of the 2011 NAB Cup, playing against Hawthorn and gathering six possessions, before being rested in the second game against Fremantle.

He became the third player in the Eagles' history to wear the No. 3 jumper for the Eagles after Chris Mainwaring and Chris Judd. The jumper was retired for three years following Mainwaring's death in October 2007 and Judd's departure from the club prior to the 2008 season.

Gaff made his AFL debut in the opening round match against North Melbourne, replacing Chris Masten as the Eagles' first substitute player. [4]

Gaff was rewarded for his form by being nominated for the 2011 AFL Rising Star award in round 19, 2011. [5]

Gaff had an extremely consistent season in 2012, gathering a total of 591 disposals and booting 9 goals for the season.

His 2013 season wasn't as consistent as the season previous, but he still played 22 games and gathered 437 disposals.

In 2014, Gaff had further improved season, gathering 534 disposals and kicking 10 goals for the year, he also played 22 games.

2015 saw Andrew become a truly elite player in the competition, he amassed 738 disposals and kicked 11 goals for the season. Including a season highlight of 36 disposals and 3 goals against Adelaide in Round 15. As of the end of round 18, 2015, Gaff was having a career best year. He is ranked equal fifth in the AFL Coaches Association voting, [6] and averages 29.9 touches a game, including a remarkable run of five straight games where he collected more than 30 disposals. [7]

Andrew Gaff kicking during the 2019 AFL round 18 Andrew Gaff kicking.3.jpg
Andrew Gaff kicking during the 2019 AFL round 18

At the conclusion of the 2015 season, he was awarded the John Worsfold Medal as the club's best-and-fairest player. [8] His outstanding form was recognised league-wide as he was named on the wing in the 2015 All-Australian team. [9]

Gaff had another consistent year in 2016, despite being knocked unconscious in round 9 by Port Adelaide's Tom Jonas, causing him to miss a week and dip in form, albeit slightly. He rebounded strongly in the last month of the year as the Eagles found some stunning form. He had a career best 38 disposals in a clinical win over Hawthorn at Subiaco in round 22, and then set a new career-best tally with 41 disposals the next week against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, as the Eagles entered the finals as the form team of the competition. He was rewarded with a place in the 40 person All-Australian squad, but was left out of the final 22-man team.

In 2018, Gaff was referred to the AFL Tribunal after an off-the-ball strike on Fremantle player Andrew Brayshaw which left him with a broken jaw and three dislodged teeth. [10] [11] [12] He was subsequently suspended for eight AFL matches leading to him missing out on playing in West Coast's premiership. [13] In October, Gaff, a restricted free agent, announced he would turn down a contract with North Melbourne, reportedly for seven years and worth around $8 million, to stay at West Coast. [14] [15]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of Round 22 2022 [16]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals  
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds  
  H  
 Handballs  
  M  
 Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game) Votes
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2011
West Coast 3177717213030275190.40.410.17.617.84.41.14
2012
West Coast 324913374217591114340.40.515.69.024.64.81.44
2013
West Coast 3225926617143776400.20.412.17.819.93.51.82
2014
West Coast 322102344190534120540.40.115.68.624.35.52.46
2015
West Coast 325118415323738111620.40.316.612.929.54.42.517
2016
West Coast 3227637228565781270.30.316.913.029.93.71.221
2017
West Coast 32466414299713127490.20.217.212.529.75.32.09
2018
West Coast 319124339244583100560.60.217.812.830.75.33.016
2019
West Coast 32231437265702141520.10.019.912.031.96.42.413
2020 [lower-alpha 1] West Coast 3185425118643781420.30.213.910.324.34.52.38
2021
West Coast 32131343234577140350.10.016.311.127.56.71.79
2022 West Coast 3162319119238372380.10.111.912.023.94.52.31
Career252806439182736665412385080.30.215.510.826.44.92.0110

Notes

  1. ↑ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Derby</span>

The Western Derby is the name given to the Australian rules football match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers, who both participate in the Australian Football League (AFL). As both teams are based in Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, the term "derby" is used to describe the match. It has become one of the most important matches for football in Western Australia, with former South Fremantle and West Coast player, and former West Coast coach John Worsfold claiming that in the week before a derby that it is the main topic in Perth.

It's obviously different to the build-up of any normal game... We don't care what else is happening in the country, which is great."

The John Worsfold Medal is an Australian rules football award presented annually to the player(s) adjudged the best and fairest at the West Coast Eagles throughout the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL) season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Glass</span> Australian rules footballer

Darren Glass is a former Australian rules footballer who played as a full-back for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally from Northam, Western Australia, he attended Carine Senior High School before beginning his career with Perth in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He was later recruited by West Coast with the 11th pick in the 1999 National Draft, making his debut for the club the following season. Glass was named in the All-Australian team on four occasions, including as captain of the 2012 team. He was named captain of West Coast in 2008, after Chris Judd was traded to Carlton, and won club best and fairest awards in 2007, 2009, and 2011. Glass retired from football midway through the 2014 season, having played 270 games for West Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Mitchell (footballer)</span> Australian rules footballer

Samuel Mitchell is an Australian rules football coach and former player who is the current coach of the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Matthew Harley Priddis is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Simpson</span> Australian Rules footballer and coach

Adam Simpson is a former Australian rules footballer who is the current premiership coach of the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). A left-footed midfielder, his playing career for North Melbourne spanned from 1995 to 2009, where he played 306 games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Ebert</span> Australian rules footballer

Bradley Ebert is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League (AFL) for the West Coast Eagles and Port Adelaide.

Eric Mackenzie is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally from Claremont in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), Mackenzie was drafted by West Coast at the 2006 National Draft, and made his debut during the 2007 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nic Naitanui</span> Australian rules footballer

Nicholas Mark Naitanui is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was born in Sydney to Fijian parents, and his family moved to Perth, Western Australia after his father's death. Growing up in Midvale, Naitanui attended Governor Stirling Senior High School, and played football for the Midvale Junior Football Club. After representing Western Australia in the 2007 and 2008 AFL Under 18 Championships, he debuted in 2008 for the Swan Districts Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). Naitanui was drafted by West Coast with the second pick in the 2008 National Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Redden</span> Australian rules football player (born 1990)

Jack Redden is a former Australian rules football player who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Shuey</span> Australian rules footballer

Luke Shuey is an Australian rules footballer and the captain of the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL).

The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football team based in Perth, Western Australia. Their 2011 season was their 25th season in the Australian Football League (AFL), their tenth season under premiership coach John Worsfold, and the fourth season with Darren Glass as captain. In the previous season, West Coast finished last on the ladder to receive their first wooden spoon. West Coast began their 2011 season with a four-point win over North Melbourne on 27 March. At the conclusion of round ten, West Coast had won five of their nine games and lost four, but over the remainder of the season won 12 of their 13 games to finish fourth at the end of the regular season. In the finals series, the club lost their qualifying final to Collingwood by 20 points. They defeated Carlton in a home semi-final, but lost to Geelong, the eventual premiers in a preliminary final at the MCG the following week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliot Yeo</span> Australian rules footballer

Elliot Yeo is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Brisbane Lions between 2012 and 2013. Yeo won a premiership with West Coast in 2018, and is a dual John Worsfold Medallist and dual All-Australian.

The 2014 season was the West Coast Eagles' 28th season in the Australian Football League (AFL), the premier Australian rules football competition. The 2014 season also marks the first season of the club's reserves affiliation with the East Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). West Coast finished thirteenth in the previous season, despite having made the finals in the two preceding seasons. At the end of the 2013 season, previous coach John Worsfold retired, after twelve seasons in the position, and was replaced by Adam Simpson, who had not coached previously at AFL level. Darren Glass was retained as captain for a seventh season, with Josh Kennedy and Scott Selwood as vice-captains. However, Glass retired from football after round 12, and was replaced by five acting co-captains: Shannon Hurn, Kennedy, Eric Mackenzie, Matt Priddis, and Selwood. Undefeated in the 2014 pre-season competition, West Coast started its season against the Western Bulldogs on 23 March. The club failed to qualify for the 2014 finals series, finishing its season in ninth place, with 11 wins and 11 losses. Priddis won the highest individual award, the Brownlow Medal, Beau Waters won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award, and Mackenzie was the club champion winning the John Worsfold Medal. No players from West Coast were selected on the All-Australian team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angus Brayshaw</span> Australian rules footballer

Angus Brayshaw is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A midfielder, 1.88 metres tall and weighing 92 kilograms (203 lb), Brayshaw is capable of contributing as both an inside and outside midfielder. He has strong family connections in Australian sport, with his father, Mark Brayshaw, a former North Melbourne player and the current AFL Coaches' Association Chief Executive Officer; his uncle James Brayshaw a former state cricketer, former North Melbourne chairman, and a sports media personality; and his paternal grandfather, Ian Brayshaw, a former state cricketer and footballer with the Claremont Football Club.

Keegan Brooksby is a professional Australian rules footballer who most recently played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for South Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League and was their best and fairest in 2014 before being selected in the 2015 rookie draft by Gold Coast. He was delisted at the end of 2016, re-drafted in the 2017 rookie draft and subsequently delisted again at the end of 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Brayshaw</span> Australian rules footballer

Andrew Brayshaw is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football team based in Perth, Western Australia. Their 2020 season was their 34th season in the Australian Football League (AFL), their seventh season under premiership coach Adam Simpson, and the first season with Luke Shuey as captain. The West Coast Eagles finished the season with 12 wins and 5 losses, placing them fifth on the ladder, qualifying for the 2020 AFL finals series, in which they were eliminated in the first round by eighth-placed Collingwood. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on their season, with the team forced to hub in Queensland for much of the season due to restrictions on travelling to Western Australia from other states.

The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football team based in Perth, Western Australia. Their 2021 season was their 35th season in the Australian Football League (AFL), their eighth season under premiership coach Adam Simpson, and their second season with Luke Shuey as captain. Having finished in the top eight every season since 2015, it was expected that West Coast would do the same in 2021. They won eight of their first thirteen matches, including an unexpected win against Port Adelaide, and a 97-point thrashing by Geelong, placing them seventh on the ladder before their midseason bye. They continued on to lose seven of their remaining nine matches, including a 92-point loss to Sydney, and their first Western Derby loss since 2015, causing them to finish ninth, missing finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 West Coast Eagles season</span>

The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football team based in Perth, Western Australia. Their 2019 season was their 33rd season in the Australian Football League (AFL), their sixth season under coach Adam Simpson, and their fifth and final season with Shannon Hurn as captain. Having won the 2018 AFL Grand Final, expectations were that West Coast would finish in the top four on the ladder. They won only three of their first six games, losing by greater than 40 points to the Brisbane Lions, Port Adelaide and Geelong, placing the Eagles 12th on the ladder at the end of round six. They then won 12 of their next 14 games, the losses being to Sydney by 45 points and to Collingwood by 1 point. By the end of round 21, West Coast had been in the top four since round 14, and were aiming to finish in the top two. They then had a disappointing six-point loss to Richmond, and a shock 38-point loss to Hawthorn at home, to finish the season fifth on the ladder. This meant West Coast missed out on the double chance that top four teams get in the AFL finals, significantly lowering their chances of winning the Grand Final. In the 2019 AFL finals series, they faced Essendon in an elimination final, beating them by 55 points, before losing to Geelong in a semi-final by 20 points, ending West Coast's season.

References

  1. ↑ 2010 AFL National Draft: who your club picked - The Age . Published 19 November 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  2. ↑ Quayle, Emma (16 November 2010). "Picks of the draft: Andrew Gaff" . Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (29 September 2015). "Gaff hopes to create new Grand Final memories after 2000 'flogging'" . Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Eagles' victory soured - The Age . Written by Tim Clarke. Published 28 March 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  5. ↑ Holmesby, Luke (2 August 2011). "Gift of the Gaff". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  6. ↑ afl.com.au
  7. ↑ "AFL Tables - Andrew Gaff - Stats - Statistics".
  8. ↑ Malcolm, Alex (10 October 2015). "Gaff caps stellar season with best and fairest". AFL.com.au. Bigpond . Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Bilton, Dean (22 September 2015). "AFL Finals: 2015 All Australian team features 11 new faces, Western Bulldogs skipper Robert Murphy named captain". abc.net.au/news. Australian Broadcasting Authority . Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Gaff strikes Brayshaw - Round 20". YouTube. Docker TV. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Gaff clashes with Brayshaw in fiery Derby | Round 20, 2018 | AFL". YouTube. AFL. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "AFL Match Review for Round 20: Andrew Gaff referred to tribunal, plenty of fines". Fox Sports Australia . 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  13. ↑ Beveridge, Riley (7 August 2018). "Tribunal hands down Gaff verdict". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  14. ↑ Bowen, Nick (7 October 2018). "UPDATE: Gaff rejects Roos, stays with Eagles". afl.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  15. ↑ Stocks, Gary (7 October 2018). "Gaff recommits to Eagles". westcoasteagles.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  16. ↑ "Andrew Gaff of the West Coast Eagles Career AFL Stats". footywire.com. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.