Peter Schwab dislikes the AFL tribunal's "exemplary record" provision, even though he hopes Lachie Neale will play in the grand final and thinks he can beat his charge.
If Brisbane fail to overturn their star's one-game striking ban, Neale would join Schwab in one of the AFL's most unwanted clubs - players to miss a grand final through suspension.
Given what is at stake, the Lions are certain to appeal if the tribunal upholds the ban.
But Schwab, who has an unrivalled CV across all parts of the AFL, is no fan of the clause that the Lions will undoubtedly use, if Neale is found guilty and they try to downgrade the penalty to a fine.
"I'm not a fan of arguing 'good behaviour' ... part of me doesn't feel that's part of it," Schwab told AAP.
"If I go through a red light, it doesn't mean, if I have no (demerit) points, I'm going to get off.
"That's the law."
Schwab went to Saturday's epic preliminary final, but did not see the incident when Neale made contact with Jack Ginnivan.
Unless the AFL produces clearer vision of the incident at the tribunal hearing - the footage shown so far is grainy - Schwab thinks the Lions have a case.
"He has some chance to get off," Schwab said.
"He could have bumped him - that's not a punch in the stomach.
"He shouldn't have done it, probably a free kick. Unless there's different vision where you clearly see him swing a forceful punch ... you'd need to have a look at that."
But as soon as Schwab heard about Neale's suspension, he almost flinched.
The three-time Hawthorn premiership player missed out on a fourth when he was suspended for the classic 1989 grand final.
"I always think 'what did you do that for?' ... any player in a final," he said.
"Don't put yourself in those positions.
"Unless it's a really nasty, vindictive act, you don't anyone to miss a grand final."
Schwab was in the AFL for four decades, also coaching Hawthorn to within a couple of points of reaching the 2001 grand final, plus working at Brisbane and the league.
The game took as much from Schwab as it gave him - apart from the suspension, he had to miss a game coaching Hawthorn because of a heart condition and he was eventually sacked from the role.
His last role, working in AFL football operations, ended badly and Schwab wishes he had not left the Lions to go the league.
But one of the game's most respected individuals, now happily retired, noted that very few leave the game on their terms.
"If you're in footy long enough, that's going to happen to you," Schwab said.
"But there were a lot of ups. (Hawthorn premiership coach) Allan Jeans used to say, footy's a game of heartache."
Schwab pointed to four-time Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, now sacked from North Melbourne, and noted with sadness that he is in excellent company.
"It's hard to leave footy on top - you look at Clarkson," he said.
"What a sad way for it to end."
