Richmond's Liam Baker has seen his one-game suspension for rough conduct upheld, meaning the Tigers utility won't be available for this week's clash with St Kilda.

Baker fronted the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday evening and was cross-examined for his collision with Sydney defender Lewis Melican during the second quarter of the match on Sunday.

The MRO graded Baker's actions as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, with Baker and Richmond pleading not guilty to the charge of rough conduct. The Tigers would also plead the level of impact should be 'low' instead of 'medium' if Baker was to be found guilty by the Tribunal.

The Tribunal deemed Baker was attempting to spoil the ball, however viewed it as an unrealistic and late attempt, resulting in the suspension standing.

When questioned by his counsel, Baker said his initial objective was to either mark or spoil the ball before it reached Melican, with the premiership Tiger eventually needing to alter his intention and then looked to spoil the ball.

Baker said when Melican "spilt the ball down to his lap" in marking the ball, he would then miss his desired spoil attempt.

Baker also denied trying to bump or brace for contact with Melican, or that his intent ever changed from contesting the ball.

"I watched the ball off his boot and saw where it was going," Baker recollected.

"I watched the ball and made a decision to try and mark it. I started running toward where I thought the ball was heading.

"I'm watching the ball (as I entered the forward 50). I was trying to either mark or spoil the ball (at that stage).

"(When leaving the ground) I thought at this point I could spoil the ball. I was using my right arm to swat the ball away. I was then extending (my arm) to spoil the ball.

"(At the final moment before contact) I was extending my arm to try and spoil the ball away. Melican spilt the ball down to his lap (causing me to miss the ball).

"(On where his arm made contact with Melican) That's where the ball originally was and where I thought it was going to be.

"I was always trying to spoil the ball. My right hand would've spoilt the ball if [Melican] had been clean (in marking the ball)."

The AFL argued Baker's attempt was not reasonable nor was it impacted by circumstances outside of his control.

The AFL also suggested Baker could have opened his arms before making impact with Melican.

"This was an inherently dangerous action and had the potential to cause more injury than it did," AFL counsel Andrew Woods said.

"The potential to cause injury has to be factored into the level of impact, particularly with high bumps that have contact with the head."

The outcome of the Tribunal's findings means Baker will not be available to play in his side's Round 4 match against St Kilda at Norwood Oval on Sunday.