Cobden vice-captain Paul Pekin was handed a four-match suspension by the Hampden league tribunal on Tuesday night.
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Pekin was found guilty of carelessly kicking South Warrnambool co-captain Liam Youl in the face during a round five match after he was cited by the league's investigations officer.
Tribunal members Brian Mathers, Robert Wade and Robert Anderson regarded Pekin's action as careless but not intentional. Mathers said the penalty would have been higher if the kick had been intentional.
South Warrnambool provided video evidence of the incident from the second quarter, which left Youl with a nasty gash above his eyebrow, requiring stitches.
The Bombers used the video to show Rooster Jesse Gallichan was involved.
Pekin said Gallichan's forearm was "across my neck" and he "couldn't breathe and started to panic". "I was trying to break free," he said.
"At the time I wasn't thinking about where Liam was."
Pekin said he didn't know that he had kicked Youl in the face until about two minutes after the incident when he was told by opponents.
Teammate Toby Hawkins told the hearing Pekin was "confused" after the incident and soon ran off the ground.
Pekin was also charged with attempted striking but escaped a sanction.
That incident was said to have happened just before the kick controversy.
Both clubs declined to comment after the hearing held at Warrnambool's Deakin University.
