Sydney forward Sam Wicks has seen his four-game suspension for rough conduct upheld at the VFL Tribunal following a challenge from the Swans on Tuesday night.

The VFL's Match Review Panel charged Wicks for a dangerous tackle on Collingwood player Ash Johnson from last Friday's game at Tramway Oval, with Wicks' actions graded as careless conduct, high contact and severe impact.

Johnson suffered a concussion as a result of the incident, however the timing of the concussion was brought into question during Tuesday's hearing.

Caleb Mitchell, the third player involved in the incident, required five stitches to his eyebrow as a result of a head collision with Johnson prior to Wicks' tackle. Johnson also suffered a facial laceration from that collision.

The Swans challenged the charge as well as the 'severe' grading in the chance the former was not successful.

Wicks, who was not aware of the head clash between Johnson and Mitchell, offered evidence in answering questions from his counsel Duncan Miller and the VFL's in Georgie Coleman.

"Johnson had the ball, I came in to lay a tackle, then Mitchell came in as well. I thought [Johnson] had the ball and I went for the tackle, then we both tripped over Mitchell," Wicks recounted.

"My right arm was under [Johnson's] right arm. My eyes were closed. I have no memory [of the ball being spilt].

"I could see [Mitchell] was underneath us. I remember tripping over him. I had both arms wrapped around [Johnson], with his right arm free. My left arm was around his body but not grabbing.

"I had no knowledge (of Johnson's head hitting the ground).

Asked if he recalled driving Johnson to the ground, Wicks denied any memory of doing so or trying to do so.

Wicks noted if he had heard the umpire's whistle he could have released Johnson earlier, however stated contact was inevitable once he had decided to attempt his tackle on Johnson.

Wicks denied being able to release Johnson in the tackle earlier.

Coleman (VFL), stated the Tribunal simply needed to be satisfied that Wicks' conduct was likely to cause injury.

Coleman stated the following points were relevant in the VFL's submission:

  • At the time the conduct occurred, the ball had gone (from Johnson's hand).
  • Wicks came at Johnson from behind
  • The umpire's whistle had blown
  • A number of times Wicks had control over his body, per evidence he provided
  • It's relevant how high his (left) arm was (in his tackle attempt).
  • He made a number of split-second decisions where he was in control of what he did next
  • The ball was well out of Johnson's possession at that time
  • The tackle was of an "inherently dangerous kind", with Johnson's arm pinned, giving him little opportunity to brace for impact
  • Johnson was in a vulnerable position given the umpire's whistle had been blow
  • Force of the tackle was excessive, given the control Wicks had over his body before opting to make the tackle
  • Wicks' conduct was likely to cause injury in circumstances where Johnson's arm was pinned

Coleman stated the 'severe' impact grading should remain given the potential to cause injury from Wicks' actions.

In regards to the collision between Johnson and Mitchell, Miller (Sydney) asked the Tribunal to assess "where the point of the concussion has occurred".

Speaking on the matter, the VFL said there were two injuries that were sustained. One to Johnson and one to Mitchell. Both sustained facial lacerations, with the VFL's concern being the concussion.

A medical report read that the cause of the concussion to Johnson was difficult to ascertain following the pair of incidents occurring in a short time.

The VFL, relying on the medical report as evidence, argued each incident was equally likely to have caused the concussion.

"That is enough for the second element of rough conduct (conduct is likely to cause injury)," Coleman said.

Miller stated Wicks' conduct did not warrant the charge of rough conduct as "Johnson's right arm is always free, and the right arm makes initial contact with the ground. There is no evidence Johnson's head makes contact with the ground".

"The Tribunal can't be satisfied (that Johnson's concussion was sustained from Wicks' tackle) given the collision that occurred beforehand," Miller added.

VFL Tribunal chair Tim Bourke and the jury found Wicks' actions as careless, and that a four-week suspension was the right outcome after taking into consideration the Swans' pleas for a two-game ban after the level of impact was questioned.

"The action of player Wicks, in the Tribunal's view, both in the video and the cross-examination is in our view more than one action," Bourke said in his summation.

"We do find under all the circumstances that it was dangerous, and part of this is also the fact that the person being tackled is a vulnerable position. For example, arms pinned with little opportunity to protect themselves.

"Additionally, we find that the umpire has blown his whistle, which becomes the significance of what's been played in the Tribunal. With the umpire having blown his whistle to stop play or award a free kick, that player Wicks being in control of the tackle as he was about to embark on, despite this, player Wicks has continued to engage in a tackle where the Collingwood player was vulnerable as, one, a player in front, two, the ball had been cleared and left the immediacy of play, and three, interference with player Johnson's left arm. Wicks has done so late with force and driven player Johnson to the ground.

"There was impact to the head of player Johnson. This is evident in the video and medical reports filed. He was concussed. The report of Dr Allen, who we would consider an expert, refers to two distinct clashes, and refers specifically to the head clash between Johnson and the other Sydney player. However, his opinion is silent as to the impact of player Johnson to the ground, but he could only be referring to the impact with the ground as the other distinct head clash. We accordingly assess the impact (between Johnson and the ground) as high.

"We find the charge made out specifically in respect to impact, the impact was severe and likely to cause injury. The force, the vulnerability, regardless of the clash of heads between player Johnson and the other Sydney player, these factors and those referred to herein satisfy the Tribunal that the conduct of the player was unreasonable and likely to cause injury."

The result of the Tribunal outcome means Wicks will be unavailable at both VFL and AFL level for four games, seeing him at least miss the Swans' first two weeks of AFL finals.