Below is the transcript of CEO Matthew Richardson's media conference opening address:

Before I say anything else, I want to speak to something that matters much more than football and the issues we deal with from week to week.

On behalf of the Port Adelaide Football Club — players, coaches, staff and our entire community — I want to pass on our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Jordan Dawson, to his family, to his friends, and to the Adelaide Football Club, on the passing of his brother Jaryd.

There are no words adequate for a moment like this.

Our thoughts are with them all at this most difficult time.

With that said, I’d like to address the Zak Butters Tribunal matter — and I want to be very deliberate about how I frame this.

Our position today as a club is not about the outcome. It is about the process.

And it's a distinction worth making clearly and carefully.

I am not going to comment on the grounds of our appeal and prejudice the outcome in any way.

That process is in train and will take its course.

What I will say though is that as an AFL industry, I know we can be better in terms of the process this week.

We spend significant time, effort and invest seriously in the wellbeing of our people – and especially our players.

This week, we’ve put a player, an umpire and an official in a situation which should be handled so much better.

We are the leading sport in Australia.

Surely, we can set up a process that addresses conflicts which will invariably happen in a game where there is so much passion and emotion but do it in way which also respects and protects our people.

We all love the passion and emotion of our players in battle – it’s what makes our game so special and connects us to them and the people they are.

All three individuals deserve better than what this week has put them through. We are not here today to challenge any individual. We are here because we believe, as an industry, we should be better than how this week has played out.

This week, we’ve subjected people to a process that has caused unnecessary stress and harm to them and their families.

I reflect on the contrast of last week – Gather Round – what a wonderful week for the game and our community – a celebration of everything great about our game and the power it has to bring people together represented by the iconic imagery of fans from every club standing united at our game on Sunday Night singing Never Tear us Apart.

One week later we find ourselves doing the very opposite of that.

We all have a role to play in this — The clubs, the AFL, the AFLPA and the media.

We have a responsibility to our players and officials to be better.

Port Adelaide's position is straightforward: the Tribunal process needs to be reformed.

It is too legalistic. It is too adversarial. And it places people under a level of scrutiny and stress that is disproportionate to the nature of the incidents it is designed to resolve.

Thank you.