Port Adelaide will be without key forward Justin Westhoff for Saturday’s home AFL match against Hawthorn after being found guilty of striking by the tribunal.

The Power challenged Westhoff’s one-match ban for striking Essendon key defender Cale Hooker.

Westhoff’s defence was that his conduct was reckless, rather than intentional, but the three-man jury took just four minutes to find against him.

There was no risk for the Power in taking the case to the tribunal.

His two-match ban was reduced to one game because of Westhoff’s six-year good record.

All that would have happened if Port had accepted the charge is that Westhoff would have less demerit points against him.

Westhoff testified that Hooker made a beeline for him at the end of the third term.

“There was going to be some sort of confrontation – neither of us was going to back down,” Westhoff said.

“I didn’t want to show any weakness.”

Umpire Chris Kamolins reported Westhoff during the match and testified at the hearing, saying Hooker told him there was nothing in the incident.

The Power are eighth on the ladder, one game plus percentage ahead of ninth-placed West Coast.