An emotional Angus Brayshaw says his younger brother was the victim of an "assault" that could have landed West Coast star Andrew Gaff in jail.
But the pair may yet become teammates with Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones confident relationships will be repaired if AFL free agent Gaff lands at the Demons next season.
Gaff received an eight-week ban from the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night over the punch which broke the jaw of Fremantle rookie Andrew Brayshaw, the younger brother of Demons midfielder Angus.
His shocking brain-fade has created a potentially awkward situation for the Demons given they are favourites to snare the Eagles midfielder should he opt to exercise his rights as a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
Angus Brayshaw, who recently signed a four-year contract extension with the Demons, said the family had no intention to pursue criminal charges against Gaff.
But he expressed outrage about the incident.
"If this has happened at a nightclub or on the streets, it's an assault," Brayshaw told an AFL website podcast on Tuesday.
"You're probably getting jailed for something like this, I would imagine ... I just can't believe honestly that it's happened.
"People saying he would never do anything like this ... the fact of the matter is I'm watching this thing and he's squared up to him as far as I can see, he's looking at him and then just absolutely ruined Andrew's mouth with his fist."
Jones earlier adopted a more conciliatory tone, saying he didn't expect there to be any lingering awkwardness should Gaff become a Demon.
"I wouldn't have thought so," Jones said.
"Obviously initially, but water would go under the bridge and guys would be able to mend and build relationships from that.
"Obviously (Angus) was disappointed by the whole thing, worried about his brother's health and those kind of things.
Jones did not believe Gaff had intended to make contact with Andrew Brayshaw's head but said such acts needed to be stamped out of the game.
The veteran Demon is in favour of the AFL introducing a send-off rule in extreme cases although AFL chief Gillon McLachlan remains opposed.
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