The Western Bulldogs will be without key forward Jack Redpath for three matches after the AFL tribunal found him guilty of striking.
The finding means Redpath will miss the last two rounds of the 2017 home-and-away season and either the Bulldogs' first final or round one of next season depending on where Luke Beveridge's side finishes on the ladder.
Redpath was charged with striking Greater Western Sydney's Phil Davis during the Giants' 48-point win on Friday night and could have accepted a two-game ban with an early plea.
Bulldogs legal counsel Rob Stary argued the open-handed blow was careless, not intentional, and to Davis' upper chest rather than his neck.
But the jury - consisting of Richard Loveridge, Paul Williams and Stewart Loewe - took 15 minutes to return a guilty verdict.
"I'm a little bit disappointed ... obviously we came here thinking we had a good case," Redpath told reporters as he left the hour-long hearing at AFL House.
"But it wasn't to be."
Redpath made a key admission in cross-examination by AFL legal counsel Jeff Gleeson QC, giving evidence that his initial blow deflected into Davis' neck, which constitutes high contact.
Davis doubled over clutching his neck after the second-quarter incident at Etihad Stadium, but he didn't leave the ground and a GWS medical report stated he did not need ongoing treatment.
Redpath couldn't hide his disappointment when it was suggested a three-week ban was harsh given the relatively minor nature of the offence.
"Yeah, but that's their decision so I've got to cop it," he said.
"I'll deal with it over the next few days."
Redpath's penalty was impacted by his bad record, the big Dog having been suspended twice in the past two seasons.
He will miss Saturday's clash against Port Adelaide in Ballarat and what could be the club's final game of the season when they face Hawthorn in round 23.
Share
