HAWTHORN champion Luke Hodge has failed in his bid to overturn a striking charge at the Tribunal on Tuesday night and will be sidelined for the Hawks' crunch game against Richmond on Sunday.

Hodge will be fined $2500 as a result of the failed challenge but he did not risk an extra week on the sidelines for his third low-level offence this season. 

The retiring AFL great argued his action was what the Hawks refer to as a "steel arm" to prevent Swan Tom Papley running in to an open goalsquare and was not a strike. 

But after a lengthy 21 minute deliberation the jury of Paul Williams, Stewart Loewe and Richard Loveridge disagreed and upheld the Match Review Panel's decision.  

"We disagreed with the Tribunal about it being a strike, we didn't think it was," Hodge said as he left the Tribunal at AFL House. 

"It's disappointing, 'Rough' (Jarryd Roughead) is playing his 250th this week and I guess that was a lot of the reason behind it as well, to try and get out there and play with him. 

"That's footy, you take what they give you and look forward to the week after."

Hodge and his defendant Peter O'Farrell mounted a strong case on Tuesday night built around what the Hawks call a 'steel arm'.

They argued Hodge would have failed in his duties as a defender if he did not seek to check Papley's run with a flexed arm, given the Swans forward was running into an open goalsquare and Hodge was the deepest defender. 

"I put my arm out to slow him down, there was no strike," Hodge told the jury. 

"I wasn't aiming anywhere. I was just trying to get my arm in to slow him down."

The three-time premiership captain said he would have been given a dressing down by coach Alastair Clarkson if he hadn't attempted to check Papley's run.

He said he would have let down the younger teammates in the backline that he has been an on-field coach and example for in his final season.

"I've played footy for 16 years and I've been here a few times," Hodge told the Tribunal.   

"When I got the call from (football manager) Jason Burt saying they were looking at this I thought there's no way that was a strike or a punch.  

"If I think I've done the wrong thing I put my hand up and take my whack. 

"(But) if I let someone go past, 'Clarko' would roar at me at half time."  

AFL legal counsel Jeff Gleeson argued there was a swinging arm and a "flicking motion" that pointed to the action being a strike.

He said the impact was sufficient to sustain a charge, despite the Swans' medical report stating Papley, who went to ground following the blow, did not need any assistance. 

The Hawks had hoped to clear Hodge in one of three ways, arguing that his action was not a strike, was of insufficient force, and was below careless conduct. 

However, after a long deliberation, the jury was satisfied Hodge had erred on all three aspects. 

Hodge will return for the Hawks' round 21 clash against North Melbourne in Launceston.