PORT Adelaide will be without key big man Justin Westhoff for this Saturday’s game against Hawthorn after an appearance before the AFL tribunal this afternoon.
The Port forward had been offerred a two match suspension that would have been lowered to one game had he taken an early plea from the Match Riview Tribunal for an incident that involved Essendon defender Cale Hooker.
The striking offence occurred during the third quarter of the match at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
As Westhoff had no previous record he was able to take a free-swing with a Tribunal appearance and still only face a penalty of 168.75 demerit points and a one-game ban.
Westhoff, through his representative Mark Griffen QC, argued that his intent in the strike was reckless and not intentional. The jury of Emmett Dunne, Wayne Henwood and Wayne Schimmelbusch however disagreed.
Photo appears with permission by the Port Adelaide Football Club