Geelong has suffered a serious blow ahead of Sunday's clash with Brisbane with the AFL Tribunal suspending deputy vice-captain Cameron Ling for one match after he was found guilty of striking St Kilda’s Nick Riewoldt.

Ling, one of the Cats best midfielders, was due to play his 50th senior match for the club this week. The 22 year-old Cat pleaded not guilty to the report, laid by field umpire Colin Rowston, but the tribunal found his contact to Riewoldt’s abdominal area was “off the ball and unnecessary”.

The video footage of the incident was inconclusive, but umpire Rowston said he was 30-35 metres away from the players, and that he had an uninterrupted view.

Ling was not Riewoldt’s direct opponent, but said he was attempting to block the young Saint with his body on behalf of Geelong defender Matthew Scarlett.

The umpire said Ling had use his “clenched right fist” to strike Riewoldt with “a short jab” during the second quarter of the game. The umpire said Riewoldt bent over after the contact either “because he was winded or in pain”.

Ling argued he had merely attempted to retard Riewoldt by swinging his right arm around his midriff.

“A light brush wouldn’t have stopped his progress at all,” he told the tribunal. “I just wanted to be in his way and allow Matty (Scarlett) to catch up.”

Riewoldt said Ling’s contact was nothing out of the ordinary, and that he had only appealed for a free kick because his passage to the ball had been obstructed.

“It probably happens 20 times per game. My lead was blocked and my run on the ball has been impeded.”

Ling was suspended for one match last season for striking Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley. He was runner-up in the Cats best-and-fairest award last year in just his third season.