Hawthorn midfielder Conor Nash has been hit with a four-match ban by the AFL tribunal, after a swinging arm knocked out Geelong's Gryan Miers on Easter Monday.
Miers was substituted out of the game with a concussion, with Nash sent directly to the tribunal for the incident.
Nash will miss games against West Coast, Richmond, Melbourne and Gold Coast.
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At the hearing, Nash argued he only had eyes for the ball and sent a text to Miers apologising for his actions. The Hawks midfielder also claimed he was attempting to knock the ball forward.
The panel said Nash would've been aware of his position to Miers' body and head since he had his arm on his back prior to impact. Further, it was determined the level of carelessness was significant.
Speaking earlier in the week, Cats champion Jimmy Bartel believed a three-week ban was the starting point, but expected Nash would be hit harder.
"(Patrick) Voss got three weeks and Miers was worse off than (Nick) Vlastuin," Bartel told Nine's Footy Classified, referencing another incident last week.
"It'd be three weeks (suspension) and up."
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd agreed, adding: "Yep, very reckless. Deserves that."
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Former Adelaide captain Rory Sloane added early in the week that Nash needs to work on his tackling technique, particularly when going after shorter players.
"That's reckless. I don't like that," Sloane told 3AW.
"He was against Gryan Miers who is obviously a lot smaller, he needed to get lower, he's probably going to miss some games for that. He's in serious trouble I reckon."
Miers will miss Geelong's clash with Carlton next weekend while in concussion protocols.
