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ST Joseph's will appeal against a 10-match ban handed to assistant coach Brett Jackman for making contact with an umpire.
Joeys coach Heath Jamieson yesterday said the club would fight the season-ending suspension, believing it was "super excessive"
Jackman was found guilty by Football Geelong's tribunal on Monday of making contact with umpire James Milligan during the third term of the Joeys' win over St Albans on Saturday.
Milligan yellow carded and reported Jackman after the Joeys veteran pushed him.
The St Joseph's hierarchy was yesterday preparing the appeal, which will go before an independent VCFL panel.
Jamieson said Jackman, a highly regarded footballer, was "bitterly disappointed" with the decision.
"We don't feel the penalty given to Brett is fair," Jamieson said. "We think it's a bit excessive, to be honest. Super excessive."
Jackman's contact was reportedly similar to Heath Shaw's on umpire Michael Vozzo in the Collingwood-Geelong clash in 2009.
Shaw copped a one-match ban and a $1950 fine.
"We went there accepting that he wasn't allowed to touch an umpire, and he knew that - he stated that - but there's a difference between a malice touch and something like he did, which was speaking with his hands," Jamieson said.
Umpire Milligan told the tribunal he rated the force a five out of 10, adding it made him take a step backwards and caught him by surprise.
It happened after Milligan paid a free against Jackman for making high contact with his opponent.
Milligan said a "frustrated" Jackman was not abusive.
"I was half a metre from (Jackman). I wasn't in his personal space," Milligan said. "With a right open hand with some force, I rated it five out of 10, pushed me in the left chest. From the force I took a step back."
There was no video of the encounter.
Jackman told the tribunal he made contact with the umpire to get his attention as he tried to explain his actions when giving away the free kick.
A remorseful Jackman, who pleaded not guilty, apologised after the infraction before he walked off the ground.
- with Alex Oates
