RICHMOND forward Ty Vickery is free to play in the final round of the season after the AFL Tribunal suspended him for four matches on Tuesday night for punching West Coast ruckman Dean Cox.
Vickery's case was automatically sent to the Tribunal after the Match Review Panel graded it intentional conduct, severe impact and high contact – the highest possible grading under its table of offences.
Represented by Michael Tovey QC, Vickery pleaded guilty and did not seek to contest the MRP gradings. The tall forward did not give evidence.
The jury of Wayne Henwood, Emmett Dunne and Wayne Schimmelbusch took seven minutes to allocate 495 demerit points to Vickery, ruling him out for four matches.
He will carry the 95 carryover points on his record for the next 12 months.
Vickery said he had accepted the MRP's grading of the charge and there was no need for him to argue the case on Tuesday night.
"There's been a spotlight on it from the media and the wider community, as there should be," he said after the decision was made.
"When it got referred to the Tribunal, you never know what was going to happen but I'm thrilled to have an opportunity to potentially play again this season.
"I'm very happy that we now have a conclusion to it. I’m able to train hard for the next four weeks and give myself a chance to potentially play in the last round."
Vickery's hit knocked Cox out, with the ruckman substituted out of the Eagles' 17-point loss last Friday night at Patersons Stadium.
A medical report from the Eagles said Cox was concussed for approximately 30 seconds and he required ongoing assessment this week and a modified training program.
Umpire Jeff Dalgleish also gave evidence via phone link.
Vickery had an existing bad record of 43.75 demerit points, which was taken into account by the jury when setting the final penalty.
Because his case was sent straight to the Tribunal Vickery could not plead guilty and receive a 25 per cent MRP discount.
However, Tovey QC asked that the case be treated as a guilty plea and Tribunal chairman David Jones instructed the jury to take that into account.
AFL legal counsel Andrew Woods agreed a discount should be taken into account and he viewed the appropriate penalty to be four weeks.
While Vickery did not give evidence, his public apology was submitted to the Tribunal.
"He is contrite and remorseful in terms of his actions, and that seems to be very clear," Jones said. "That (apology) is genuine on his part."
Richmond faces the Sydney Swans in round 23.
