Port Adelaide's trip to the Tribunal has been successful after Zak Butters' striking charge was dismissed.
Butters was offered a one-match ban by the AFL Match Review Officer (MRO) for striking Giant midfielder Tom Green in the first quarter of Sunday's game at Engie Stadium.
The MRO graded the incident as intentional conduct and low impact with high contact, constituting a week off.
The Tribunal found that the degree of impact was negligible instead of low, resulting in the charge being dropped.
The Power's successful attempt to eradicate the suspension means Butters will be available for the Round 15 clash against Brisbane as well as being eligible for the Brownlow.
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You can read through the processes of the Butters case below...
Port Adelaide challenge Butters charge
Verdict: Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters charge has been dismissed.
The Tribunal found that the impact was negligible, not low.
16:48:ย Tribunal will now deliberate.
16:26: Port Adelaide (Chambers) referencing "Hogan example" given 'negligible impact' is not a reportable offence. Hogan's case was dismissed.
Chambers says the impact is equal to or less than Hogan's 'strike'.
"The primary reason to say this is negligible is to just watch the film... (Green's) not knocked off balance. That's the quintessential definition of negligible."
16:17: The AFL (Bird) remains steadfast on the intentional part of the charge, given Butters chose to conduct himself in that way.
As for the level of impact, the AFL (Bird) believes, regardless of the medical report indicating no concerning injury, that "a strike to the side of the face" and reaction from Green should constitute a low level of impact.
"The strike occurs off the ball... And Green can't have been expecting that sort of contact and as such it is more than negligible contact.
"This is not glancing with a few fingers to the side of the face. This is a strike to the side of the face."
16:06: Chambers (Port Adelaide) recounts Butters' answers to cross-examination, particularly the "flinch".
Butters believes it wasn't from the contact but "from something else.
Port Adelaide will submit the Round 6 incident between GWS' Jesse Hogan and Carlton's Lewis Young as supporting evidence.
Hogan's incident was graded as intentional, due to being off the ball, with low impact and high contact, but was dismissed due to negligible contact, not low.
15:56: AFL Counsel Sam Bird cross-examining Butters.
Bird (AFL) establishing that Butters struck Green to the face with force, causing his head to "recoil" back.
Butters believes Green was "more flinching ... to the act rather than the force itself."
15:50:ย Butters will give evidence with assistance from Port Adelaide Counsel Jeffcott Chambers.
The Power midfielder concedes there was an incident between him and Tom Green. And that he was playing midfield.
"As I was trying to make field position, we got into a mutual bump at the start... then there was a push involved," Butters says.
"Very minimal to the chest area. I tried to push with my open hand to the chest area.
"(My arm) slightly got pushed up, followed through and my fingers briefly made contact with his face.
"Very minor (severity of impact)... my fingers came in contact with (area above his shoulder).
"No treatment for Green... He continued to take his kick...There was nothing said or remonstration."
15:45: Zak Butters pleas not guilty on two bases. The impact is not sufficient and should be negligible.
And high contact should be careless rather than intentional.
Both would downgrade the suspension.
Zak Butters has received a one-match suspension for this incident involving Tom Green.
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— AFL (@AFL) June 17, 2024