Port Adelaide player Daniel Houston's AFL has been suspended for five matches following an unsuccessful AFL Tribunal hearing following a charge of rough conduct on Adelaide's Izak Rankine.
Houston was referred directly to the Tribunal by the AFL's Match Review Officer, who graded Houston's actions as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
The incident in question floored and concussed Rankine during Saturday night's Showdown clash.
A suspension of five games puts a line through Houston's chances of playing again this season, with an early finals exit to lead to his absence being extended into the early rounds of next season.
Here's how Tuesday's hearing unfolded...
Verdict: The AFL Tribunal has decided on a five-match suspension for Dan Houston for rough conduct.
Summation:
"Mr. Houston has pleaded guilty to all elements of the charge and submits the appropriate sanction is three matches. The AFL submits the appropriate sanction is five matches," Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson said.
"The sanction is to be determined in the Tribunal's discretion. We've taken into account Mr. Houston's guilty plea, among other things, including his good record, his contrition and the need for consistency compared with other recent comparable Tribunal decisions.
"Having done so, we consider the appropriate sanction is five weeks. The carelessness was significant, the impact was severe. The immediate consequences for Rankine were evident. He was concussed, it appears his shoulder was hurt and there was the potential for more serious injury.
"We do not consider the circumstances give rise to exceptional and compelling circumstances. We do not consider the consequence of missing finals, and potentially a grand final, impacts the sanction that should be imposed, particularly for such a serious breach and such a significant injury."
7:31: The Tribunal is now deliberating. Verdict to come shortly
7:27 Krupka adds that the Houston incident should be treated "differently and more leniently" than other minimum four-game suspensions this year, noting it to be the "closest example of permissible contact".
Krupka detailed that Houston has done community work through the Port Adelaide Football Club and was elevated to the club's leadership group this year.
7:18: Krupka drew attention to an incident from earlier this year involving Rankine, who was suspended for four games for an off-ball bump on Brisbane's Brandon Starcevich. Rankine was handed four games for his actions, with Starcevich 'unlikely to expect contact' in the situation, per Krupka.
Krupka said the two incidents were "vastly different and in no way comparable" in his argument that Houston should not be suspended for as many as four matches.
7:12: Krupka has raised the fact that not been suspended once in more than 180 AFL and SANFL games, while he has one $1500 fine on his record for involvement in a melee.
The Power plead for the Tribunal o factor Houston's record into their decision making.
7:08: Ben Krupka (Port Adelaide: You can't be comfortably satisfied that there was contact directly to the head of Rankine.
7:00: Hannon (AFL) has argued that contact was made to Rankine's shoulder, that Houston's actions were at the high end of carelessness, that Houston could've tackled Rankine instead of bumping, and that Houston's incident is more palpable compared to rough conduct incidents (Sam Powell-Pepper and Peter Wright example raised) that resulted in four matches earlier this year.
6:52: Houston provided the following statement:
"I regret my decision to bump Izak and I am very sorry for the injury my decision caused," he said.
"I don't remember making the decision to bump. It's clear from the film that I did make that decision. I never meant to hurt Izak, let alone concuss him.
"I don't believe I made any contact at all with Isaac's Head, neck or top of his shoulders, but I accept that my bump caused his head to hit the ground, and because of that, this is classified as high.
"At the time I didn't see his head hit the ground because I was watching the ball. I don't know why I didn't tackle, in the past that has been my first instinct. I don't know why I decided to bump, because I can't remember making that decision, because it all happened so quickly.
"I reached out to Izak after the game to apologize. I like to think that I'm a fair player, and I have never been suspended before. I've been an AFL player for nine years, I have played in many finals but never in a grand final. Losing the opportunity to play in a grand final would be crushing for me."
Houston was not cross-examined.
6:49: Hannon has confirmed the AFL is seeking a five-game suspension.
6:48: Hannon has revealed an Adelaide medical report has also revealed Rankine suffered an AC joint shoulder injury from the collision.
6:46: AFL counsel Lisan Hannon argues that you 'can be comfortably satisfied' that the top of the shoulder/neck of Rankine was struck at the point of contact.
6:44pm: Port Adelaide have confirmed they will not dispute the charge, but will seek a three-game suspension.