The AFL's tribunal has set a fresh precedent in suspending Richmond's ace attacker Tom Lynch for five games, despite the fact his striking victim was not injured.
Lynch received the longest suspension of the season so far for striking Adelaide's Jordon Butts, in a test case for the tribunal and its guidelines.
Despite Butts not being injured, the impact of Lynch's strike in Saturday's MCG fixture was deemed by the tribunal as severe because of its potential to cause injury.
Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson noted at Tuesday night's hearing that the case involved the "relatively rare offence of an intentional strike".
"Lynch admits he intentionally struck Jordon Butts of Adelaide," Gleeson said.
"He contends that he didn't intend to strike him high but he admits that this is what he did.
"Therefore the only matter in issue is the level of impact."
Butts wasn't hurt and played on but the AFL's match review officer Michael Christian graded the impact as severe and the tribunal agreed.
Lynch's counsel Sam Tovey argued the impact should have been classed as medium or high, resulting in a two or three-game ban.
"We find that the impact was severe," Gleeson said.
"Lynch swung his arm in an upwards motion, beginning at roughly his own hip, and made forceful contact with the back of Butts' head, his neck and the top of his back.
"Mr Tovey on behalf of Lynch understandably placed considerable emphasis on the absence of injury.
"We do take into account that this was what we regard as a serious intentional action with the potential to cause serious injury."
Gleeson said once it was established that the strike made severe impact "the table in the guidelines and regulations specifies that the sanction is four or more matches".
"When determining the appropriate sanction for an offence that is intentional, severe and high, all aspects of the offence are to be taken into account," he said.
"We note in this regard that the tribunal guidelines ... (specify) that serious intentional actions will be subject to greater sanction commensurate with the potential to cause serious injury."
Gleeson said other factors in deciding the five-match ban included that Butts had no reason to anticipate, or deflect, the strike, and that the ball was not in the immediate area.
Richmond have until noon Wednesday to lodge any appeal.
