Port Adelaide chief executive, Matthew Richardson, has slammed the AFL for its handling of the process stemming from the highly contentious incident between Power star Zak Butters and field umpire Nick Foot in Sunday's Gather Round clash at the Adelaide Oval.
Butters was on Tuesday found guilty of using abusive and insulting language towards an umpire and fined $1500. The Tribunal found Butters asked Foot, 'How much are they paying you?', after the umpire awarded a dubious free kick against the Power in the loss to the Saints.
Port Adelaide and Butters have disputed the finding and will appeal the sanction.
The AFL Appeal Board Hearing will be held on Monday evening, after Butters lines up for Port in their Round 6 clash against Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
An Appeal Board case can only be made on one or more of the following: (1) An error of law that had a material impact on the decision of the Tribunal has occurred; (2) The decision of the Tribunal is so unreasonable that no Tribunal acting reasonably could have come to that decision having regard to the evidence before it; (3) The classification of the offence by the Tribunal was manifestly excessive or inadequate; and (4) The sanction imposed by the tribunal was manifestly excessive or inadequate.
Richardson claims the Tribunal process "needs to be reformed" as "it's too legalistic, it's too adversarial".
"I'm not ging to comment on the grounds of our appeal, and prejudice the outcome in any way. That process is in train and will take its course," Richardson said.
"What I will say, though, is that as an AFL industry, I know we can be better in terms of the process, this week. We spend significant time, effort, and invest in the wellbeing of our people, and especially our players.
"This week, we put a player, an umpire and an official, in a situation which should have been handled so much better.
"We are the leading sport in Australia. Surely, we can set up a process that addresses conflict, which will invariably happen in a game here there is so much and emotion, but do it in a way which also respects and protects our people.
"We all love the passion and emotion of our players in the battle, it's what makes our game so special, and connects us to them and the people they are.
"All three individuals deserve better than what this week has put them through.
"We are not here today to challenge any individual. We are here because we believe, as an industry, we should be better than how this week has played out.
This week, we have subjected people to a process that has caused unnecessary stress and harm to them and their families.
"Port Adelaide's position is straightforward. The Tribunal process needs to be reformed. It's too legalistic, it's too adversarial, it places people under a level of scrutiny and stress that's disproportionate to the nature of the incidents that it's designed to resolve."
