The AFL loves Bachar Houli as much as it hates a swinging forearm that concusses an opponent.
AFL operations manager Simon Lethlean made a point of praising Houli as he commented on the historic appeal that doubled the Richmond defender's suspension.
Lethlean launched the appeal, the first time the AFL has challenged a tribunal verdict, after Houli received a two-game ban for striking Carlton opponent Jed Lamb.
On Thursday night the appeals board made that a four-game ban, meaning Houli now misses the big round-18 clash against top side GWS.
No one disagreed with Richmond's assertion that Houli is a man of fine character.
But very few people outside Richmond agreed with the original tribunal penalty.
The AFL successfully challenged the tribunal's original decision that Houli's much-lauded character should influence the length of his suspension.
Character references from the likes of Waleed Aly and Mark Williams, plus a reference to comments from the Prime Minister earlier this week about Houli, originally helped the backman's cause.
Then on Thursday the so-called "good bloke defence' was ruled irrelevant.
"He's a leader in our game, a player and a person of great integrity," Lethlean said after the hearing.
"His remorse for his actions were clear after the completion of the match.
"Our actions in appealing the tribunal decision were about protecting players from injury to the head and this is very important to us."
This is the first suspension for Houli in his 162-game AFL career.
Appeals board chairman Peter O'Callaghan QC joined in the praise of Houli, saying he deserved the highest praise.
But the board agreed with Lethlean's argument that two games was manifestly inadequate.
"A blow from a person of exemplary character has the same effect as a blow from a person of bad character," O'Callaghan said.
As Houli's marathon two-hour appeal hearing unfolded on Thursday night, Carlton announced that Lamb would miss Saturday's match against Adelaide because of concussion.
"The decision has been made and I accept it," Houli said after the hearing.
"My concern is and always has been for Jed and I hope he recovers really quick.
"The other thing is we move on with life and I will do my best to help the team prepare for the next few games."
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