AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has agreed with the eight-week suspension handed down to Fremantle utility Dean Solomon, deeming it a reflection of how far the game has come.

The tribunal found Solomon guilty of striking Cat Cameron Ling in Saturday's clash, and the 28-year-old will not play again this season.

"Years ago that would have been just another incident on a weekend that would not have attracted the outrage that it has attracted today," Demetriou said.

"We have made an effort to address the issue of on-field violence and it won’t be tolerated."

Solomon apologised to Ling and the Geelong Football Club directly after the game and Demetriou paid tribute to the player for his conciliatory actions.

"I commend Dean for showing remorse immediately after the game and apologising," Demetriou said. "It is something we haven’t seen before. But I think it demonstrates how far our game has come from the perspective of on-field violence.

"Everyone wants Cameron Ling to recover quickly and he will be out of the game for four weeks and Dean Solomon will be out for eight weeks. He understands that he can’t get away with that on the footy field and most of our supporters agree with that."

Solomon will be eligible to play in round two of the 2009 season.