Port Adelaide have failed to downgrade Dan Houston’s five-match ban on the AFL Appeals Board, which means the star defender’s season is now over.
A remorseful Houston pleaded responsible to tough conduct on the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night time for his brutal bump on Adelaide’s Izak Rankine.
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The Power, who argued for a three-match ban, launched an attraction when the tribunal handed down a five-match suspension.
In what grew to become an at-times feisty attraction on Thursday night time, Port Adelaide’s counsel Paul Ehrlich argued there was a failure of procedural equity and the tribunal’s discovering was merely incorrect as a matter of regulation.
Ehrlich argued that Tuesday’s listening to was not carried out on the idea that Houston breached his obligation of care in his choice to bump.
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“The expression does not appear in the transcript until mentioning the tribunal reasons,” Ehrlich stated.
“The AFL did not allege or submit that he breached any care by electing to bump instead of electing to tackle.
“The AFL stated the bump would have been permitted save for the excessive contact.
“It’s not a breach of duty to make an election between two lawful rights under the laws of the game.
“Yes, he can deal with, sure, he can bump. He selected to bump, and that call was not a breach of obligation.
“We say there was a denial of procedural fairness. It’s an error of principle.”
Port Adelaide additionally argued Houston’s exemplary file wasn’t absolutely considered, and the five-match ban was grossly above what ought to have been moderately handed out.
“What the tribunal has done on penalty is take into account the potential for more serious injury,” Ehrlich stated.
“We say that’s an error of law.”
The Power additionally disputed whether or not there had the truth is been contact to the neck or the highest of the shoulder through the bump.
Appeals board chair Will Houghton questioned a number of of Ehrlich’s arguments, with the pair agreeing to disagree at instances.
Lisa Hannon, representing the AFL, stated the tribunal had been honest and cheap in reaching its verdict of 5 matches.
“There was ample evidence to suggest contact to the top of the shoulder,” Hannon stated.
“We utterly reject that contention (of breach of procedural fairness).”
The appeals board knocked down all of Port’s arguments, dismissing the attraction.
“In our view, none of the matters that Houston raised would relate to any error of law that the tribunal was said to have made,” Houghton stated after reaching his choice.
“They relate to factual findings by the tribunal.
The penalty imposed is not plainly outside of the range of penalties available.”
Houston is unlikely to return to Alberton subsequent yr, with a return to his native Victoria properly and really on the playing cards.
The 27-year-old did not communicate on the appeals listening to, however he expressed his regret on Tuesday night time.
“I regret my decision to bump Izak, and I’m very sorry for the injury my decision caused,” Houston stated.
“I never meant to hurt Izak, let alone concuss him,” Houston stated.
“I don’t know why I didn’t tackle. In the past this has been my first instinct. I don’t know why I decided to bump because I can’t remember making that decision because it all happened so quickly.”
AAP
