• The Viney verdict: the footy world has its say
MELBOURNE will appeal Tuesday night's controversial AFL Tribunal verdict that saw midfielder Jack Viney suspended for two weeks after being found guilty of rough conduct.
The appeal hearing will be held on Thursday evening.
Viney said he was 'shattered' at the tribunal's decision to suspend him when he arrived at AAMI Park on Wednesday morning.
The Viney incident frame by frame: Hover your mouse to pause and scroll forwards or backwards
The decision to suspend Viney has caused much discussion among AFL commentators and supporters, with many arguing that the collision between Viney and Adelaide's Tom Lynch was accidental and unavoidable.
On Monday, the Match Review Panel referred the incident directly to the tribunal.
Melbourne plays the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night at the MCG.
"Obviously I'm disappointed with the decision and disappointed I won't be able to run out with the guys on Saturday night," he said.
"The club's looking at appealing it, so there's actually not much I can say right now."
Viney said he was frustrated by the ruling.
"Yeah absolutely, shattered I won't be able to run out with the boys on Saturday night."
The Viney incident frame by frame: Hover your mouse to pause and scroll forwards or backwards
The decision to suspend Viney has caused much discussion among AFL commentators and supporters, with many arguing that the collision between Viney and Adelaide's Tom Lynch was accidental and unavoidable.
Watch Joel Bowden explain the MRP's findings
Lynch was left with a broken jaw when Viney's shoulder hit him and he was sandwiched between the Demon midfielder and Melbourne defender Alex Georgiou.
The Demons will 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.
The case will be heard by the AFL appeals board, which is chaired by Peter O'Callaghan QC, with the potential panel still to be determined.
There have been 14 appeals board hearings since the current Tribunal system started in 2005, with only one successful after Collingwood defender Nick Maxwell overturned a rough conduct ban for bumping West Coast's Patrick McGinnity in 2009.
On Monday, the Match Review Panel referred the incident directly to the tribunal.
Melbourne plays the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night at the MCG.
