Hawthorn midfielder Conor Nash slapped with four-match ban
Nash collected Miers with a high, swinging arm in the Cats' seven-point win on Easter Monday, and the AFL tribunal — after sweating on their final verdict for an hour — took a dim view of the hit on Wednesday night.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Gryan Miers knocked out by Conor Nash in ugly incident.
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Nash was remorseful and admitted to the tribunal that he got 'badly wrong'.
'I just want to express with deep regret what happened to Gryan,' he said.
'I'm very remorseful for the incident. I was simply trying to make a play on the ball and I just got it badly wrong.'
The tribunal was also presented with a text message that Nash sent to Miers after the game.
'Hi Gryan, Conor Nash here. Firstly, I just want to check in on how you've pulled up today. Hopefully not too bad and can get back on track soon. I'm also reaching out to let you know there really wasn't any malice to that hit,' the message said.
'I tried to play the ball and I just got it badly wrong. Yes, I do try playing the game with a physical presence, but not in that spirit. Just want you to know that again. Very sorry for what's happened and all the circus around it. Hopefully it's just a week for you and you're right to go. All the best for the rest of the season. Go well. Cheers, Conor.'
Hawthorn pushed for a three-match sentence but the AFL thought four games was appropriate.
Hawthorn representative Myles Tehan said it was 'not a dirty act'.
'It was an obvious football act attempting to impact the play by tapping the ball away (which went wrong),' Tehan said.
Tehan also compared Nash's clean history to fellow Irishman, the late great Jimmy Stynes.
'Nash's impeccable record does call to mind the famously impeccable record of another Irishman, Mr Jim Stynes,' he said.
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