Sydney have explained the grounds on which they'll look to reduce the ban of veteran Luke Parker's six-game suspension for rough conduct following an incident in the VFL and the subsequent Tribunal verdict.
Parker was referred directly to the VFL Tribunal after being charged for a bump on Frankston's Josh Smith last Friday, with the league's Match Review Panel grading the 31-year-old's actions as careless conduct, serve impact and high contact.
The Swans had hoped for a four-game suspension for Parker, whi pleaded guilty to rough conduct, before the Tribunal's verdict fell in favour of the VFL to see the Swans midfielder hit with a six-game ban.
Sydney have since opted to appeal the Tribunal's verdict, with a further hearing to take place on Monday evening.
The Swans will challenge the length of the suspension handed down by the Tribunal, believing the six-week sanction is too "severe" of a penalty for Parker's actions.
"It's reasonably straightforward. When you appeal a decision, you've got two sort of lines in which you can," Swans CEO Tom Harley told SEN.
"One is an error of law, and the other is the severity of the sanction. We feel like six weeks is on that severe end.
"Luke pleaded guilty, we were prepared to go to four weeks. Obviously, the Tribunal landed with six. So we're appealing on those grounds.
"There's absolutely an element where you support your people, you support your great people. It was an accident, a very unfortunate accident. Josh Smith has suffered some very serious injuries and we acknowledged that, but we're appealing the length of the term as opposed to the charge itself."
The current standing suspension for Parker means he is not available to play until Round 18 of the AFL season, with one game already served following Thursday night's clash between Sydney and the Western Bulldogs.
The Swans are scheduled for a bye in Round 12, further adding to Parker's absence.
A reduced suspension to five weeks would mean Parker is available to face St Kilda in early July for his return game, while a four-game suspension would see him free to play the week prior against Fremantle.
Parker's return to the senior side is no certainty once he is cleared to play, with the three-time best and fairest winner yet to play under John Longmire due to injury and the form of others.
Parker's Appeal Board hearing will take place on Monday at approximately 5:00pm (AEST).