ST KILDA is highly likely to appeal the AFL Tribunal's decision to uphold Ben Long's one-match ban for rough conduct.
The Saints failed to downgrade Long's bump on Western Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae from medium impact on Monday night, leaving the defender in line to miss Friday night's semi-final with Richmond.
However, the Saints will spend Monday night working through their options and a further hearing before AFL Appeals Board on Wednesday night is on the cards.
"We are disappointed for Ben and will strongly assess our options for appeal," Saints chief operating officer Simon Lethlean said.
"We have until midday Tuesday to submit an appeal and it appears the likely option at this early stage."
Should Long miss, the Saints will be forced into three changes with Paddy Ryder (hamstring) sidelined, while Jake Carlisle has departed the hub for the birth of his third child.
Earlier on Monday night, the jury, consisting of David Neitz, Richard Loveridge and Paul Williams, took 25 minutes to come to its decision that the one-week ban should stand.
The Tribunal members also stated they were "surprised" Macrae got to his feet as quickly as he did after his head "snapped back, which indicates more than a glancing blow" from Long.
It is Long's second suspension of the year after he received three games for a bump on Fremantle's Sean Darcy in round six.
However, the previous hit didn't come into the jury's thinking.
Jeff Gleeson QC, acting on behalf of the AFL, pointed to the momentum Long built up in coming off the line to collect Macrae in Saturday's elimination final at the Gabba.
While the Dogs medical report showed that Macrae was only assessed briefly and was cleared to play on, Gleeson said there should be "strong consideration in potential to cause injury".
Saints representative and club director Jack Rush QC cautioned the jury on buying into the "slippery slope" of that interpretation.
He instead pushed the jury to only focus on the "concrete evidence" of the outcome that included no injury and the ability for Macrae to play out the match.
Last week's four emergencies Nick Hind, Dylan Roberton, Jonathon Marsh and Shane Savage, as well as Josh Battle (who missed with a foot injury) will all come into the reckoning for the Saints.
