Collingwood Premiership coach Mick Malthouse believes Richmond star Tom Lynch received more weeks than he should have at the tribunal.
Lynch was reported in the Tigers 68 point loss to Adelaide on the weekend after striking Crows defender Jordan Butts.
The Tigers' star received a 5-week ban from the tribunal on Tuesday night after he conceded he was in the wrong but denied it was a punch.
The Tribunal’s findings were particularly damning of Lynch explaining there was a serious potential to cause a serious injury while noting there was no significant injury, they were trying to deter the action.
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Malthouse stated he thought there may have been an overreaction by giving Lynch a five-week ban.
“I’m not sure that we haven’t overreacted, the vigilantes are out and he’s copped five weeks,” Malthouse explained on Nine’s Today program.
“If you’re going to give someone five weeks for what it looks like, then adjust the rules so people know why it's five weeks, you can’t just come out with ‘this is today and not yesterday.’”
Malthouse also questioned the motives of the ban, suggesting the AFL was trying to protect its brand.
“Where is the integrity over the actual casting of five weeks? I don’t get that, that’s a public relations exercise,” the former Pies coach said.
“He will wear it, and I know that he will wear it; he is a really decent person, and so is the club.”
Lynch told the tribunal that he apologised for the incident post game to Butts and knows he was in the wrong.
"I walked over, shook his hand, and apologised and wished him all the best for the season," he said.
"I got it wrong. I told him that he certainly beat me today, and he seemed fine."
The Tigers, who are sitting second last in 17th place, will take on fourth-placed Geelong on Saturday to try and secure their fourth win of the season.