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The AFL will make a “landmark ruling” when it determines where retired star Angus Brayshaw’s payout comes from, according to Fox Footy’s Gerard Whateley, as debates rages over whether the funds should be included inside Melbourne’s salary cap.
The 28-year-old Brayshaw was last month forced into retirement due to his history of concussions – the most recent from a divisive Brayden Maynard attempted smother in the Demons’ qualifying final loss to Collingwood.
But the premiership Dee now walks away from the game with five years still to run on his reported multimillion-dollar deal.
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So the question becomes where does the money come from.
There’s reports the AFL, Brayshaw’s management TLA and the Demons are “locked” in discussions over whether all of, part of or none of Brayshaw’s pay is included in Melbourne’s salary cap.
“This is going to set a precedent,” Whateley said on AFL 360.
“It’s going to be a big precedent that’s for sure.
“I suspect it’s going to be outside the cap.”
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Discussing the controversy further on his SEN radio program, Whateley described the payout decision as a “landmark ruling”.
“Angus Brayshaw gets every dollar he’s owed … but where does it sit for Melbourne?” he asked.
“A long-term rich contract to keep the player out of the clutches of other clubs and then through concussion and the heightened awareness and sensitivity (he retires), it’s such an important ruling.”
Fellow AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson called for the funds to be taken from inside Melbourne’s salary cap.
“I’m in favour of it being in the cap,” he said.
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“If (North Melbourne’s) Harry Sheezel who just signed a seven-year deal does his knee tomorrow and it’s a John Coleman and he can’t play footy again, his contract has to be paid in the cap for the next seven years if he’s not playing again.
“When Lance Franklin went to Sydney … remember the hullabaloo there.
“Because it’s a concussion injury, now the AFL’s having a discussion about whether that should be in the cap, should part of it be in the cap, should all of it be in the cap.
“My gut feel is if you sign someone to a long-term deal – I don’t want to be flippant about this but unless someone passes or literally can’t play football beyond circumstances it should go in the cap.”
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In February Brayshaw said he was “devastated” to walk away from the game after undergoing extensive neurological testing and expert consultation following the Maynard bump.
“Concussion is a massive issue facing our game,” he said.
“I hope from this, a terrible result for me personally, can come some positive outcomes for the future of player safety.”
Brayshaw played 167 AFL games, including the Demons’ famous 2021 drought-breaking premiership, before his medical retirement.
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