Giants forward Toby Bedford will miss his side's all-important clash against Port Adelaide on Sunday after the Tribunal upheld his one-match suspension for a dangerous tackle.
The former Demon drew the ire of the match review officer following his tackle of Sydney's Ollie Florent during GWS' Battle of the Bridge loss last Saturday, leading to a ban being offered on Sunday evening.
Unsatisfied, the Giants took to the Tribunal to seek a dismissal, employing lawyer Anais D'Arville to present a case on behalf of the 23-year-old.
Though Bedford was willing to admit that his tackle on Florent required "some force" be deployed, D'Arville argued that any reasonable player would have acted in exactly the same fashion as the forward.
The league, represented by Sally Flynn, presented the same stance as the match review officer, stating that Bedford failed to show the requisite duty of care when tackling his opposite number.
Yet, after just shy of an hour of deliberations, the Tribunal panel consisting of Melbourne legend David Neitz, former Blue Jordan Bannister and chairperson Renee Enbom upheld Bedford's ban.
GWS will make the trip to Adelaide Oval without Bedford for a clash that could well cement the expansion side's September credentials.
