How does a Tribunal hearing work?

The Tribunal hears charges where the player has pleaded not guilty, or guilty to a lesser charge, as well as Direct Tribunal Offences and serious Classifiable Offences referred by the MRO.

• The panel is a chairperson and two Tribunal members. The 2026 chairs are Jeff Gleeson KC, Renee Enbom KC and Will Houghton KC.
• The chairperson runs the process and decides points of law. The panel decides whether the offence occurred and sets the sanction.
• The Tribunal may find the player guilty of the original charge or a lesser charge, or not guilty. It can also classify the offence differently under the Table of Offences.
• The player can have legal representation. A victim player who was harmed may give evidence only with the chairperson's permission.
• The chairperson gives the outcome with a brief verbal explanation of the reasons.
• For a challenge to a financial sanction, the player may choose to have a single legally trained panel member decide on written submissions only.

If exceptional and compelling circumstances make the Table of Offences outcome inappropriate or unreasonable, the Tribunal may impose a sanction, or none, in its absolute discretion. A player with an exemplary record at AFL or State League level may argue this.

Source: 2026 AFL Tribunal Guidelines, sections 2.1(d), 2.2 and 3.1(d), (g).