Richmond's Bachar Houli had Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Gold Logie winner Waleed Aly in his corner but still received a contentious two-match AFL suspension.
West Coast's Will Schofield didn't bring the same star power to bear, but was found not guilty of striking Melbourne's Clayton Oliver nonetheless.
Houli was found guilty of striking Carlton's Jed Lamb in an incident assessed as intentional conduct with high impact to the head by the match review panel that left the Blues forward out cold on the MCG turf.
Schofield was found not guilty of striking Oliver - who was widely panned for making too much of the contact - in an incident assessed as intentional conduct with low impact to the head that left Oliver annoyed and with a tender jaw.
For a little over an hour at AFL headquarters on Tuesday night, the bizarre scenario where both players could be suspended for two matches appeared a distinct possibility.
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But if the tribunal jury of David Neitz, Hamish McIntosh and Wayne Henwood set themselves up for criticism for letting Houli off lightly, they spared themselves additional outcry with the Schofield decision.
The Tigers defender centred his defence around the intentional aspect of the incident, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of careless conduct with high impact to the head.
"I was absolutely shocked ... because it's something I've never done in my life," Houli said in his evidence.
"I've never, ever, intended to hurt anyone - it's part of my practise of my religion.
"I'm a peaceful person ... I feel proud of myself the way I've conducted myself so far and I will continue to conduct myself in that manner."
Richmond's legal counsel submitted four character references, including a transcript of the Prime Minister's glowing remarks about Houli at a function on Monday.
Monash University academic and Channel 10 presenter Dr Waleed Aly, former Tigers assistant coach Mark Williams and AFL diversity manager Ali Fahour also gave written references.
Lamb was not called to give evidence but reporting umpire Matt Stevic was.
Stevic, who was 35m away, assessed the incident as careless conduct and said he saw no reason to change that classification after seeing vision of the clash.
Despite all that the jury took five minutes to find him guilty of the more severe charge.
AFL legal counsel Andrew Woods then submitted a four-game ban was the appropriate sanction, while Sam Tovey, representing the club and Houli, asked for a two-game suspension.
Despite their finding of intentional conduct, the jury settled on two games, and cited Houli's exemplary character and record for the relatively light sanction.
The 29-year-old has played 162 AFL games over 11 seasons and eight years as a junior without being suspended. His only disciplinary blemish was a fine for wrestling Greater Western Sydney's Rhys Palmer in 2014.
He will miss games against Port Adelaide and St Kilda unless he successfully appeals the verdict.
