AFL Tribunal: Brisbane captain, defender learn fate for strikes

Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews has had his three-match suspension upheld for his strike on Western Bulldogs small Arthur Jones.

The Lions argued that Andrews should be free to play given he attempted to execute a shepherd, but they also reference a new provision.

The provision states that concussion will "usually be graded as severe impact... a lesser impact grading may be imposed for a careless act". 

However, the Tribunal found that the carelessness of Andrews' swinging arm does constitute a strike, and the level of impact, that was initially deemed severe, was consistent with the outcome.

Andrews will miss clashes against Sydney, St Kilda and Collingwood.

Earlier, Brisbane premiership defender Darcy Gardiner was unable to overturn his one-match suspension, and will miss the Round 1 clash against Sydney after the Tribunal upheld the charge.

The Lions argued argued that the contest against Western Bulldogs' Aaron Naughton was not a strike, and that impact should be reduced from medium to low if it was deemed so.

The Match Review Officer (MRO) deemed the contact as medium impact, careless conduct and high contact.

The AFL contested that Gardiner had full vision of Naughton and leaves the ground late before making forceful contact.

They also suggested that a reasonable player would've pulled out of the contest given how late Gardiner was, or attempted to slow down.

Despite no obvious injury to Naughton, the Tribunal found that the act was "inherently dangerous", and had the potential to cause serious injury, constituting a medium impact grading.

Gardiner didn't provide evidence.

The Lions will continue to sit at the Tribunal, awaiting the hearing for co-captain Harris Andrews.

Andrews is fighting a three-match ban for his errant strike on Bulldogs forward Arthur Jones.

The club accepted Zac Bailey's one-match suspension for his elbow to young Dog Michael Sellwood's head. He will miss the Swans clash.