BRISBANE defender Tom Cutler has failed in his bid to overturn a two-match ban at the AFL Tribunal, which deliberated for just three minutes before finding him guilty of rough conduct on Adelaide's Lachlan Murphy.
Cutler had been offered a two-match ban by Match Review Officer Michael Christian on Monday, having struck Murphy in the head with his elbow while attempting to spoil during Brisbane's clash with Adelaide at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Murphy was concussed as a result of the incident and was unable to return to the field.
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The action had been graded by Christian as careless conduct, with high impact to the head.
Cutler argued it was his intention to spoil the ball as he jumped into the contest, but quickly tried to protect himself upon realising that contact with oncoming players was inevitable.
The 23-year-old also said he didn't know how many players were coming in his direction, nor did he realise whether he had struck an Adelaide player or a Brisbane player.
In arguing against the suggestion that his actions were careless, Cutler said he wasn't aware that an Adelaide player was leading to the contest in front of his Brisbane teammate.
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His representative, Gavin Handran, argued that his client's actions weren't "unreasonable or unnecessary in the circumstances", but proved unsuccessful in his bid to overturn Cutler's ban.
"Firstly I'd like to extend my well wishes to Lachie, I never meant to hurt him," Cutler said.
"Obviously I'm disappointed with the decision that the Tribunal has made, but I have to respect their decision.
"My job now is to focus on training and supporting my teammates for the next two weeks. I'm just looking forward to getting back to my football."
Cutler will miss Brisbane's games against Geelong and North Melbourne.