Newcastle Jets striker Roy O'Donovan has been banned for 10 games following a kung-fu style kick to the face of Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas.
O'Donovan struck Thomas during injury-time of the A-League grand final which Melbourne won 1-0.
Handed a red card on the spot, the Irishman was charged with serious foul play after the studs of his boot made contact with Thomas' face and jaw.
Football Federation Australia's disciplinary and ethics committee deliberated for three days before handing down O'Donovan the second lengthy ban of his career.
The ban is two games more than the eight games he served in 2016 for headbutting Manny Muscat of the Wellington Pheonix while at Central Coast.
It's the second longest ban ever in the league, eclipsed by Danny Vukovic who was nailed with a nine-month ban for striking a referee in 2008.
O'Donovan and the Jets have seven days to appeal the decision, one that will leave the Newcastle side without their main attack weapon for most of next years season.
The striker's representation argued that O'Donovan had made a genuine play at the ball during Tuesday's three-hour hearing, but conceded that it was "reckless".
The committee ruled that the "Hail Mary attempt" was always going to endanger Thomas as he attempted to go for the ball.
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The A-League's longest bans ever:
Danny Vukovic: nine months and three months suspended, for striking a referee
Roy O'Donovan: 10 games for kicking
Tiago Calvano: eight games and four suspended for holding a referee
Kevin Muscat: eight games for serious foul play
Roy O'Donovan: eight games for headbutting
Ney Fabiano: six games for spitting