Richmond key forward Tom Lynch has been sent straight to the tribunal by the AFL’s match review officer (MRO) and could face a suspension of up to five weeks for his wild swing at Adelaide defender Jordon Butts.

The round-arm haymaker that struck Butts late in the second quarter was graded as intentional conduct and severe impact, and the contact was clearly high.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tom Lynch reported for striking Jordon Butts.

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Recent changes to the AFL’s judicial system allow MRO Michael Christian to offer four weeks and no tribunal hearing to a player for the same grading of intentional conduct and severe impact, based on discretion, where previously it constituted strictly three.

But Christian has instead opted to send Lynch straight to the tribunal, despite the AFL trying to lower the number of tribunal cases heard.

It’s likely the league will argue for a five-match suspension, which would be the most significant ban of the year.

Since the inception of a sole MRO at the end of 2017, Christian — who has been in that role the entire time — has rarely graded an offence as intentional conduct and severe impact.

He has handed out several three-week bans to players for careless conduct and severe impact.

Lynch could now miss games against Geelong, Essendon, West Coast, Collingwood and Gold Coast.

Tom Lynch has learned his fate for this hit on Jordon Butts. Credit: Channel 7

It leaves the Tigers’ key position stocks very bare, given Sunday’s injury to Mykelti Lefau, who had only just come back into the team after over a year on the sidelines, and Noah Balta’s court-ordered curfew.

Tigers fans are calling for the promotion of 2024 first-round draft pick Taj Hotton after he dominated in the VFL on managed minutes in his second game back from injury on the weekend, but he could be given more time to get ready at the lower level.

Fellow young talls Josh Gibcus and Harry Armstrong are also working their way back to full match fitness after long-term injuries of their own.

Lynch had zero touches in the opening two quarters while giving away five free kicks, with the Tigers trailing by 41 points at the main break.

The ball was well clear of the pair when the 32-year-old swung a right arm at Butts, who crashed to the turf but was not concussed.

Lynch told 7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary after the game he “didn’t want to cause harm” but was put off by Butts and reacted.

“I was just trying to get free or whatever and frustration came out,” he said.

“I gave away too many free kicks and it’s not good enough as a leader at Richmond. At half-time I said sorry boys, I thought we were playing pretty well in that second quarter and I pretty much stopped the momentum.

“I was more frustrated with how he was defending me, I thought. And clearly it was within the rules because there were no free kicks awarded to me, and I went outside the rules. Yeah, I’ve got to be better.”

Tigers coach Adem Yze said he would be seeking clarification from the AFL on how marking contests would be adjudicated.

“It happens to him, he’s such a big man and they do scrag him. He’s feeling like he’s getting held,” he said.

“No excuse with his response (hitting Butts) but I can understand his frustration.”