Hawthorn's Sam Butler will challenge his two-game ban at the VFL Tribunal in a bid to free him ahead of this weekend's Grand Final clash against Geelong.
As it stands, he will miss the decider after the VFL Match Review Panel handed him a two-match ban for a high bump on Essendon's Harry Jones during Saturday's preliminary final.
Butler can reduce the ban to one match with an early plea, but would need the sanction turned over entirely to feature in Sunday's decider. If he accepted the penalty, he would be available for the AFL Grand Final if the Hawks were to progress through Brisbane.
The bump was graded careless conduct, medium impact and high contact - a combination that delineates a two-match ban.
Box Hill and Sam Butler will be contesting the 2-match suspension at the VFL Tribunal tonight at 6pm. https://t.co/DLsBvxliq0
— Aidan Cellini (@aidancellini4) September 15, 2026
Prior to the preliminary final, Butler had been in exemplary form in the twos, averaging 25 disposals per game for David Mirra's side. He was also enjoying a rich vein of goal-kicking form, managing 15 goals in his previous seven matches.
Butler averaged 12 disposals in eight matches at AFL level this season, booting four goals.
Butler's Box Hill and Hawthorn teammate, the in-demand Calsher Dear was handed a $300 fine for misconduct, after a second-quarter incident involving Bomber Deacon Kalpakis.
The fine can be reduced to a reprimand with an early guilty plea.
Another chapter in the Cats-Hawks rivalry is set to be written 😤
Geelong and Box Hill Hawks will meet in the 2026 Smithy's VFL Grand Final: https://t.co/MQmU4xVRmm pic.twitter.com/8V5tEioHDp
— VFL / VFLW (@VFL) September 13, 2026
Dear has found himself in the headlines in recent times, as meetings with rival clubs come to light while his side prepare for a preliminary final.
Melbourne, Geelong and Collingwood are in the running for the father-son's services, after he fell out of favour at the Hawks - a position only confirmed by Ben King's imminent arrival.
