AFL this afternoon has apologised to Bud and the Swans for 'cowardly' comment by their barrister last night.

Also to Richmond, citing 'rhetorical flourishes of the nature used by both Counsel last night should not be part of the AFL tribunal process and they do not reflect the views of the AFL'.

Statement went on to say they had contacted Bud and the Swans to apologise.

And so they should have. It was disgraceful.

I suspect the apology from the AFL, who are not known for this sort of thing, may have been inspired by intervention by other lawyers repping the injured parties.