It was better news for Brisbane Lions midfielder Simon Black, who pleaded guilty to a similar charge. Black was fined $1950 and given 93.75 demerit points for making reckless contact with an umpire.
Both Black and Thomas had made contact with the umpires from behind at centre bounces.
Thomas argued that the contact he made with umpire Jason Armstrong was negligent rather than reckless but the tribunal dismissed his claim. He will miss this weekend's crucial match against ladder leaders St Kilda.
Port Adelaide football operations manager Peter Rohde said the ruling was disappointing for Thomas who is trying to cement a spot in the Power’s senior line-up.
“It is very disappointing for Matt because he fought to get back in the team,” Rohde said.
“He has been suspended twice before for one week and it has interrupted his seasons in the past. They were for bumps on players and Matt’s worked really hard and is to be commended for modifying the way he plays so he doesn’t come here but in this case he’s made contact with an umpire and got a week suspension.”
Thomas had a 20 per cent points loading from his previous suspensions.
Black, on the other hand, received a 25 per cent discount on the match review panel's recommendations of 125 demerit points and a $2600 fine for pleading guilty.
Under a quirk of the system, Black remains elligible for the Brownlow Medal as his case was referred directly to the tribunal.
Normally if an offence originally draws more than 100 demerit points a player is out of the running for the Brownlow, but because this case had to go to the tribunal, the match review panel's 125 demerit points was only a recommendation, not a set penalty.
St Kilda midfielder Leigh Montagna was cleared of striking after he successfully argued that the strike against Fremantle’s Paul Hasleby did not have enough impact do be deemed a strike.
Montagna had originally been given 125 demerit points by the match review panel, downgraded to 93.75 because of his five-year good record.
