Brisbane star Lachie Neale has failed in his bid to have a one-game suspension overturned at the AFL tribunal and will miss Saturday’s grand final against Fremantle.

Neale took his striking case to the tribunal, arguing that he did not strike Jack Ginnivan. He then argued that if the tribunal felt he did strike the Hawk, the level of contact was low impact instead of medium.

And he also argued that if the tribunal still thought he was guilty, he should be free to play due to his brilliant career and having no previous suspensions should be classified as exceptional and compelling circumstances.

But in a hearing which lasted just over two hours and then required more than two hours of deliberations, the tribunal told Neale he was still suspended.

Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson said Neale elected to run towards Ginnivan when the ball was nowhere near the pair and strike him in retaliation for an incident with teammate Eric Hipwood.

He said Neale admitted during the hearing that he understood punches to the stomach would be graded as medium impact and dismissed his suggestion he only laid a bump.

But then came Neale’s request to be cleared because of a career with 320 games, two Brownlow Medals and no suspensions.

The tribunal rejected that too, saying Neale had been previously fined multiple times for punching players in the stomach

“Having given the matter very careful consideration, we find that these matters do not either individually or collectively render it inappropriate or unreasonable to apply a one-match suspension for this intentional strike,” Gleeson said.

“To use the language that has been used more than once this evening, Neale intended to strike him in the guts for the way he behaved towards Hipwood - and he did strike him in the guts. Even Neale’s outstanding record does not render a one-match suspension for that act inappropriate or unreasonable.”

Neale looked on track to be cleared under exceptional and compelling circumstances after his lawyer - former AFL footy boss Adrian Anderson - reeled off stats which Gleeson admitted made him a footy unicorn.

Mr Anderson said only Neale and Robert Harvey had ever won two Brownlow Medals, played more than 300 games and never been suspended. He said Neale is one of only 25 men to play 320 games and never be suspended and Anderson said he is entitled to have one lapse in judgement.

“He is one of the best and one of the fairest players to have ever played the game” Mr Anderson said.

The Lions started their defence by referring to his seven SANFL senior games and 15 WAFL games, making it clear he wasn’t suspended during those.

Then they recited his six best and fairests across Fremantle and Brisbane, along with two Brownlow Medals, four All Australian selections, AFLPA MVP, AFLCA Champion Player of the Year, Gary Ayres Player of the Finals award and being named best on ground in six derby matches either in WA or Qld. Being appointed as captain was then discussed among his 320 AFL games.

Neale accused Ginnivan of jumper punching Eric Hipwood and felt he needed to retaliate. But he denied striking him.

“I ran past Jack and moved towards him to body check and bump him. I felt my shoulder make contact with his body first. My arm wrapped around Jack. I didn’t feel like I was striking him.”

Neale said Ginnivan saw him approaching and was expecting contact.

He denied he used a clenched fist and claimed Ginnivan tried to grab his arm.

“It gets wrapped up by Jack’s arm like a tackle,” he said.

Ginnivan wasn’t called to give evidence. But Neale took the extraordinary step of ringing Ginnivan just hours before the tribunal and submitting his recollection of that conversation as evidence.

“He said it felt like it was more of a bump,” Neale claimed.

The AFL showed Neale the vision slowed down and argued he chose to swing his arm at Ginnivan.

The AFL’s lawyer Andrew Woods asked Neale if he understood a strike to the body would result in a one match ban. Neale said he was aware of that rule.

Mr Woods said the vision proved Neale struck Ginnivan instead of being bumped. He said it was not a football act and was clearly intentional.

“It is a very clear strike when one looks at the vision,” he said.

Mr Woods also argued the tribunal guidelines called for these type of intentional strikes to be classified as medium impact.

The decision will not only cost Neale the chance to play in a grand final, it will rob him of the chance to be part of history as the Lions chase three premierships in a row. He is also expected to leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season.

And Neale’s suspension also severely weakens Brisbane’s midfield which improves Fremantle’s chances of winning their first premiership.