Melbourne defender Dion Johnstone’s last chance of appearing in Sunday’s VFL grand final for Casey Demons has failed at the VFL tribunal on Wednesday night.
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The 20-year-old was handed a two-match suspension at the hearing after the league’s tribunal found him guilty of striking.
The North Warrnambool Eagles export, who is yet to make his AFL debut for the Demons, was charged with striking Essendon’s Nino Lazzaro in last Saturday's preliminary final.
The tribunal deemed it careless conduct with medium impact and high contact after Johnstone swung his right arm into Lazzaro in an attempt to dislodge the ball during a contest but the arm struck his opponent’s face.
Johnstone has played 17 games for Casey, who is the AFL-affiliated club of Melbourne, this season after 19 in last year’s campaign.
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