Downie faced the tribunal following an investigation by Phil Norris into an incident involving Downie and Bond during the first quarter of the Maryborough versus Kangaroo Flat game at Princes Park in round 15.

“I felt after interviewing seven witnesses that the evidence provided corroborated that something happened in the first quarter that resulted in the Maryborough player having to leave the ground,’’ Norris said.

In his evidence, Bond said that during a “push and shove’’ with Downie: “he leaned forward and headbutted me in the mouth. I believe it was deliberate.’’

Bond said as a result of the incident he suffered one broken tooth, and one was ‘‘bent out of shape’’, but he was able to return to the ground for the start of the second quarter.

Downie pleaded not guilty to the report, saying in his evidence that after he had been tackled to the ground and felt a shove in his back he and Bond “had a typical push and shove, I didn’t think there was much in it.’’

However, when pressed by tribunal chairman Terry Kennedy, Downie did concede that during the push and shove he must have made contact with Bond, but that it was not deliberate.

In handing down the guilty verdict, Kennedy said: “accidental... I find that difficult to believe.’’

In announcing the four-match suspension, Kennedy said the tribunal had taken into account Downie’s good record, in which he had never before been reported in 220 games, but also the damage to Bond’s face.

Downie’s suspension will start this Saturday when the Roos play Eaglehawk at Canterbury Park in the final round.

Should the Roos advance to the grand final, Downie would be eligible to play.