Pickett was offered a one-match ban for a high bump on Hawthorn livewire Dylan Moore during Saturday's round-nine encounter.

But the charge was upheld on Tuesday night with the Tigers failing to have Pickett's contact downgraded from medium to low impact.

He will be forced to sit out the Dreamtime game, taking place at the MCG for the first time since 2019 after COVID-19 forced it to be held in Darwin and Perth during the last two seasons.

Pickett and his partner Jessica Nannup designed the Tigers' Indigenous jumper for this year's Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

The 30-year-old argued he was only going for the ball when he decided to lay a shepherd on Moore so teammate Liam Baker could collect possession.

Pickett told the tribunal it was a safe bump that was delivered with a level of force of "three out of 10".

"I dropped my level to make it safe because there was a height difference between me (and Moore)," Pickett said.

The AFL's legal counsel Nick Pane said the incident could never be deemed to be low impact.

"It was more good luck than good technique Moore wasn't injured," Pane told the tribunal.

The 30-year-old's rise to the AFL has been one of the most inspirational stories of all-time after he starred on debut in Richmond's 2019 grand-final win.

Pickett has since played 45 games for the Tigers, including the 2020 premiership victory at the Gabba.

"The jumper he's put on show is significant to him and his people and it's just one of those events," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said earlier on Tuesday.

"He plays the game a hard, tough Richmond style and it's unfortunate he finds himself in trouble with the tribunal.

"It's a football act and goes into a contest not hoping to cause injury but we understand these are the rules of the game."

The Sydney Swans also opted to head to the tribunal after midfielder James Rowbottom was charged with engaging in rough conduct against Essendon star Zach Merrett.

Rowbottom was offered a one-match suspension with the match review officer grading the incident during the second quarter of Saturday night's match as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

The charge was upheld by the tribunal and Rowbottom will miss the Swans' Friday night blockbuster against Carlton at Marvel Stadium.

Sydney argued Rowbottom did not deliver a bump and there was no contact to Merrett's head.

But the tribunal panel disagreed after deliberating for almost 40 minutes.

Australian Associated Press