Sydney's Luke Parker has seen his six-game suspension for rough conduct upheld following a failed VFL Appeal Board hearing.
The Swans appealed the VFL Tribunal's outcome of a six-game ban after Parker was referred directly to the Tribunal for his rough conduct charge on Frankston's Josh Smith.
The VFL's Match Review Panel graded Parker's actions as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, with a suspension of at least four matches handed down.
The Swans were unsuccessful in their first hearing, with the Tribunal opting for the VFL's plea of a six-game suspension, prompting an appeal and an Appeal Board hearing on Monday.
Sydney again pleaded for a four-game suspension, while the VFL stood firm in their belief that Parker should be imposed with a six-game suspension.
The New South Wales club, represented by Counsel Duncan Miller, made note of Saint Jimmy Webster's seven-game suspension from earlier this year, stating that level of carelessness was at the highest end and that Parker's carelessness wasn't comparable.
Chair Will Houghton responded to the submission by drawing attention to the fact that Smith's injury was much more significant than that suffered by Jy Simpkin in Jimmy Webster's case, despite Parker being handed a lower penalty.
The Swans also argued Smith's lack of care by not seeing Parker coming his way played a part in the incident.
The VFL supported the Tribunal's decision at the Appeal Board hearing, noting there was no error of law and that the six-week sanction was satisfactory.
The Appeal Board rejected the Swans' submissions and stated that the findings made by the VFL Tribunal were satisfactory, seeing Parker's suspension upheld.
The suspension means Parker won't be available until Round 18 of the AFL season, having already served the first game of his ban over the recent weekend.
He will miss AFL matches against Geelong, Adelaide, GWS, Fremantle, St Kilda before being able to return against North Melbourne.