Rhyan Mansell will miss Richmond's next three games with his suspension for pushing an opposition player into an oncoming contest upheld at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday.

The Palawa forward was handed the sanction for rough conduct by the MRO review officer, marking the first case of a player being banned for the type of incident.

Following the push, Saints defender Liam O'Connell was subbed out with concussion shortly after colliding with an unintentional arm of Tom Lynch while the Tiger contested a mark late in the first quarter on Saturday afternoon.

O'Connell fell awkwardly onto the Marvel Stadium deck, with Mansell's shove into traffic graded careless, high contact and severe impact.

Rhyan Mansell has been handed a three-match suspension for rough conduct following this incident involving Liam O'Connell.

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The tribunal weren't convinced by the Tigers' arguments Mansell was attempting to create separation from the Irishman, and was unaware of other players in the immediate area.

"If, as Mansell said, he did not know that other players were running forward to contest the mark, it's highly unlikely that he would have pushed O'Connell away from himself and into the path of what would be on his evidence an uncontested mark," the AFL stated on Tuesday, via The Herald Sun.

"Mansell's movements are only consistent with him knowing or assuming that other players were running in to contest the mark.

"Even if Mansell did not see or see sufficiently clearly that other players were running to contest the mark, he would, or should have, assumed that the ball hung in the air for long enough for the reasonable player to expect that players who had set up at about the 30 meter mark would run in and try to contest the ball."

The league reportedly also rejected suggestions O'Connell was in a position to attempt marking the ball and that Mansell breached his duty of care, with his push also "clearly" contributing to speed and angle of the Saint in the collision.

A potential sanction for the act had drawn opinion on both sides in the lead up to Tuesday's hearing.

On the coverage of the game, former Demon and commentator Gary Lyon called for pushing an opposition player into oncoming traffic to be "outlawed" from football.

Eddie Betts told the Herald Sun earlier this week an upheld ban would mean a significant change to much of the role in which he carved out a champion career.

"As a small forward I don't think it's a reportable act even if the outcome is that (O'Connell) was concussed. As a small forward you get taught to do that," he said.

"That is how small forwards kick goals…I did it at training, I taught other forwards, you get separation and it's not always pushing them, it's more body on body or using your elbow to push instead of your hands."

On the day, Richmond coach Adam Yze, without seeing the Mansell-O'Connel matter, said "based on previous incidents I don't think that has been an issue, so hopefully our's isn't either".

Richmond no.1 draft pick Sam Lalor suffered a fractured jaw after being pushed into oncoming contact during a preseason hitout with West Coast in mid-February.

"If it is a similar incident, it's pretty hard to change a rule during the season." Yze said.

"If it's deemed inappropriate we'll deal with it."

Speaking earlier on Tuesday, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, according to AAP, resisted comparisons to earlier incidents, saying Mansell's matter was a 'test case'.

"The one that's in front of the tribunal today has got a number of key differentiators to the other ones ... and that will play out tonight," Dillon said in Adelaide.

"What I will say is that the whole MRO and tribunal process is about protecting the health and safety of our players," he added.

"That has always been the forefront of what we're trying to do.

"So whether it's a test case or not, I think that it now gives the opportunity for Rhyan to put his case forward and we await the outcome."

Mansell has been ruled out of upcoming fixtures against the Lions, Dockers and Suns.