Dual Koroit premiership player Damian O'Connor was suspended for three matches by the Hampden league's independent tribunal on Wednesday night.
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The Saints' playing assistant coach was found guilty of intentionally striking Warrnambool's Jye Turland during the final quarter in Saturday's five-point win at Reid Oval.
Field umpire Jamie Lake reported O'Connor for carelessly striking Turland and sent him from the field under a yellow card.
But Lake told the tribunal he had decided to change the charge to intentionally striking after watching footage of the incident supplied by Warrnambool.
He had not seen the video until Wednesday night.
Lake said he was 25-30 metres away and had a clear view of the incident.
"I actually saw Damian hit Jye to the head," he said.
"I reckon Jye was on the ground for a good 10 seconds."
Turland, who had tackled O'Connor, said that as he turned around he was punched in the back of the head.
He rated the hit a seven out of 10 and can only remember falling to his knees.
He said he believed O'Connor struck him with his fist.
"It felt like a punch," he said.
The Blues player took no further part in the match which he said went for about seven more minutes.
"I've got headaches still," he said.
He said he doesn't know if he will play this week.
"I'm definitely 50/50 at the minute because I've still got headaches," he said.
O'Connor, who admitted making contact with Turland, said he did not punch him.
He said it was a one-handed shove and he didn't realise Turland was the player in front of him.
O'Connor, who rated the contact five out of 10, said he wanted to move Turland out of the way because he was chasing the next contest.
"There was no intent to strike at all," he said.
O'Connor said the height difference between the players was a contributing factor.
League prosecutor Peter Manoel said it was a clenched fist and that O'Connor knew where Turland was at all times.
He said on the street it would have been called "a coward's punch" because it was to the back of the head.
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