Contrite captain Luke Hodge will miss Hawthorn's AFL grand final rematch against Sydney, having copped a three-game ban at the AFL tribunal.
Hodge was booked for striking the head of North Melbourne skipper Andrew Swallow, with the match review panel referring the charge directly to the tribunal.
The widely-respected veteran was a picture of remorse on Tuesday night, pleading guilty and detailing his apologies to Swallow and Kangaroos coach Brad Scott.
AFL legal counsel Jeff Gleeson QC pushed for a penalty of three or four matches, while player advocate Chris Townshend QC wanted a ban of two or three games.
The three-man jury met in the middle, forcing the two-time Norm Smith medallist to miss fixtures against Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne and the Swans.
"I don't stand for that as a footballer. I don't stand for that as a person," Hodge told reporters after Tuesday's hearing.
"I definitely believe there's no room in our game for incidents like that. I'll cop the three weeks.
"I'd like to apologise again.
"I spoke to him (Swallow) on Monday and he understood I did not mean to get him as high as I did."
Hodge testified he was falling off balance when he lashed out at Swallow, but added that was no excuse for his actions.
"It was a genuine mistake and I didn't mean to make contact where I did. It was meant to be the chest," he said.
"I was trying to go to him (during last Saturday's match) and explain."
Swallow was not hurt by the blow, but Gleeson noted the jury must consider the "potential to cause serious injury" given he was struck on the head.
"This was a particularly nasty strike. It was thrown with considerable force and thrown in an upward motion," Gleeson said.
Gold Coast defender Steven May, who accidentally knocked Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff out with a bump, was also slapped with a three-week ban by the AFL tribunal on Tuesday.
Former Port Adelaide midfielder Dom Cassisi was among many users on Twitter to be puzzled by the verdicts.
"If the "bump" in AFL wasn't dead already, it def is now. May getting 3 weeks is a bit stiff. Should've punched/elbowed him like Yarran/Hodge," Cassisi posted.
The Hawks will be minus two of their best players when they tackle the Giants on Saturday.
Earlier on Tuesday, Hodge's teammate Jordan Lewis accepted a two-game ban for a crude spoil that struck Todd Goldstein on the head.
Brisbane's Nick Robertson accepted a $1000 fine for striking Suns ruckman Tom Nicholls, while Richmond fullback Alex Rance was docked the same amount for throwing the ball into the face of Cats captain Joel Selwood.
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