HAWTHORN will be without Cyril Rioli for the next fortnight after the Hawks failed to convince Tuesday night’s tribunal his attempting to strike charge against Port Adelaide’s Nick Salter was unfounded.

The forward will now miss the Hawks’ upcoming clashes with the Sydney Swans and Melbourne with the sanction of the charge being added to the guilty plea he had already entered for striking Salter.

The Hawks initially argued Rioli’s charge should not stand as the offence took place in the melee he had already pleaded guilty to being involved in.

Rioli was one of nine players fined for participation in the melee during the match at AAMI Stadium.

The Hawks also said it was unfair Rioli should be singled out as attempting to strike considering the number of players involved in the third-quarter brawl. 

However, legal counsel Jeff Gleeson SC said there was a clear second blow delivered to Salter and that it simply was “not landed with precision”.

He also concluded that Rioli’s intention was clearly to strike Salter, as he had already done so seconds earlier.   

The Hawks have ruled out taking the matter further.

“We thought we’d have a go at that because we felt within that whole melee there were lots of arms being thrown around and there only seemed to be one report for an attempted strike,” general manager of football operations Mark Evans said afterwards.

“We thought it was worthwhile saying we felt that had been captured in the melee charge and indeed the striking charge.

“It wasn’t seen that way by the tribunal so we accept that and move on.”

The usually mild-mannered Rioli had no explanation for his unusual anger snap.

“I just let my frustrations get the better of me and it won’t happen again,” he said.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and the consequences are I’ll be out for two weeks. I’ll accept that.”

The Hawks are already without defender Campbell Brown, who is halfway through a two-week suspension for striking St Kilda’s Nick Dal Santo.