Episode 5: Assault on the sports field

Can you be charged with assault for punching an opponent on the sports field? A violent on-field incident in the Australian Football League (AFL) has led to calls for police to bring criminal charges against one of the league's best players. 

West Coast player Andrew Gaff has been suspended for eight matches for punching 18-year-old Fremantle player Andrew Brayshaw behind play. 

Brayshaw has undergone surgery on a broken jaw and will require further treatment for three broken teeth. The teenager's first season in the game has come to an abrupt and violent end. 

The hit has prompted calls for all sorts of things; from a red card system in the AFL, to criminal charges and even jail time. 

On this episode of Just Cases we explore a similarly notorious incident in 1985. It led to the criminal prosecution of Leigh Matthews - a giant of Australian rules football held by many to be the greatest footballer to have ever played the game.

Music in this episode
Parallel Park 'Counterattack'
Silicon Transmitter 'Sphere'
Soularflair 'Cue 2 -Sad-HipHop-Backmasked piano cello Fortitude'