Sydney Swans have decided to appeal the AFL Tribunal's verdict to uphold Isaac Heeney's one-game suspension for striking.
Heeney fronted the Tribunal on Tuesday after the Swans decided to challenge the ban, which was handed down by the Match Review Officer - who graded the midfielder's actions on St Kilda's Jimmy Webster as intentional conduct, high impact and low impact.
The Swans challenged the striking charge and argued that Heeney's actions were careless rather than intentional. A successful outcome would have seen Heeney hit with a fine rather than a suspension, thus keeping his Brownlow Medal hopes alive.
AFL Tribunal Chair Jeff Gleeson stated the following in his summation of the verdict:
"Heeney's swing of the arm was a forceful blow, and he intended that blow to make contact with Webster, albeit not to his face. We are not satisfied that he intended only to make contact with Webster's hands."
The Swans have since decided to take the matter to the AFL Appeal Board in the hope of having Heeney available to play in Round 18 against North Melbourne.
The hearing will take place at 5:00pm (AEST) on Thursday evening, withย Zero Hangerย to have coverage of the fallout.
"The Sydney Swans have decided to appeal the Tribunal's decision to uphold Isaac Heeney's striking ban," a club statement read.
"The Swans were unsuccessful in overturning Heeney's one-match ban for striking St Kilda's Jimmy Webster at the Tribunal last night.
"Heeney is set to miss Saturday's clash with North Melbourne and as it stands is out of the running for the Brownlow Medal."
A club or the AFL can appeal a Tribunal's outcome on any of the following points:
- Error of law that has a material impact on the decision of the Tribunal.
- That the decision was so unreasonable that no Tribunal acting reasonably could have come to that decision having regard to the evidence before it.
- Classification of offence manifestly excessive or inadequate.
- Sanction imposed manifestly excessive or inadequate.
