MELBOURNE coach Paul Roos left the AFL Tribunal "in shock" after Jack Viney was suspended, and admits he's "at a loss" about how to instruct his players to brace for contact in light of the verdict.
Viney was controversially slapped with a two-game ban on Tuesday night for a hit that left Adelaide's Tom Lynch with a broken jaw.
"When I left him (Jack) last night we were probably all a bit in shock, so then it was a case of what we were going to do as a footy club," he told 3AW’s Sports Today on Wednesday.
Melbourne decided to appeal on the grounds "that the decision was so unreasonable, that no Tribunal acting reasonably could have come to that decision having regard to the evidence before it", according to a statement on the club’s website.
Roos said the verdict has left him confused about how to coach his players.
The Sydney Swans premiership coach revealed his unusual move to accompany Viney to the Tribunal was because he wanted to explain how the club had been instructing Viney to change his approach when attacking a contest.
"We've been doing a lot of work because he's had actually had a lot of concussions and broken jaws," said Roos, who wasn't allowed to speak before the Tribunal.
"He's very straight on when he comes at the ball; he's very head-first.
"He tends to go through a contest with his head, and we've actually been coaching him … to turn his body and brace for contact when he's actually going for the ball.
"I guess from purely a coaching point of view, I'm at a bit of a loss. Because it's something that (midfield coach) Benny Matthews has been working really hard with him.
"It is confusing, it is hard to know what to say to a Jack Viney because what we're trying to do is protect Jack as well."
The Demons support the AFL's harsh line on head contact if players choose to bump when they have a reasonable alternative, Roos said.
However, the club argues Viney had not option but to brace for contact and did not choose to bump Lynch.
"Pending the appeal and pending what happens, I think we need an explanation," Roos said.
"I think if he does get off, then it probably clears it up for everyone and we move on.
"But if he doesn't get off, I think the industry needs to know why and, in that similar situation, what is someone supposed to do."
If Viney's suspension isn't overturned, the first match he will miss is Saturday night's clash against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
Roos confirmed swingman James Frawley would be picked and is expected to play despite battling a strained ligament in his big toe.
"We'll pick him, he won't train much tomorrow and we think he should play come Saturday night," Roos said.
