Hawthorn midfielder Travis Tuck has been banned for 12 matches, after becoming the first player to record three strikes under the AFL's controversial illicit drugs policy.

But the 22-year-old son of AFL games record-holder Michael Tuck has avoided a fine and was saved a more severe penalty after the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night took into account the fact he was suffering from depression.

Tuck, who has not played a senior game with the Hawks this season, will also be given a chance to reignite his career, with the club to include him in their training squad and allow him to vie for a spot on their rookie list ahead of next season.

The league issued Tuck with a third strike after he was found unconscious by police and transported to hospital on Friday night.

He had twice previously tested positive to illicit drugs under the league's testing regime.

Tuck, who appeared at Tuesday night's hearing in person, did not contest the AFL's decision to apply the latest strike, meaning the hearing was only to decide a sanction, rather than determine the player's guilt.

The closed hearing, chaired by former Victorian County Court Judge John Hassett, with drug experts Susan White and Andrew Garnham on the panel, lasted three-and-a-half hours.

It took evidence from Tuck's treating clinicians and drug counsellors.

Hassett said the tribunal imposed a six-match suspended ban and $5,000 fine held over from Tuck's first two strikes, as well as a further six-match sanction for his third strike.

But he said Tuck's depression, for which he has been receiving treatment, was deemed to constitute "exceptional and compelling circumstances".

That prompted the tribunal to cancel the fine, as well as ruling that Tuck can return to VFL football after serving the first eight matches of his suspension.

Tuck, whose older brother Shane plays for Richmond, has played 20 senior games for Hawthorn since his 2007 debut, but none this year.

Police have confirmed they will not lay charges against him.

"We don't want to discourage people when they find themselves in need of some medical assistance or some medical treatment ... from actually calling police and asking for help," Victoria Police deputy commissioner Kieran Walshe told reporters on Tuesday.

Speaking after the finding, Hawks chief executive Stuart Fox took a swipe at the AFL's policy, saying Tuck and the club would have been better off if Hawthorn had been informed earlier.

Under the AFL's policy, the names of players who notch one or two strikes are kept confidential, although a club's medical officer is informed after the second strike.

Fox said Hawthorn only became aware of the drug and depression issues surrounding Tuck after Friday's incident, severely hampering their chances to help him.

Asked if the policy had failed Tuck, Fox said: "I believe it has."

"I believe we could have provided a comprehensive network of support for Travis," Fox said.

He said the Hawks believed they had been denied both their rights as an employer and the opportunity to provide Tuck better treatment.

But AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said if it was not for the fact that the league's policy meant Tuck was directed to counselling after his first strike, the situation might have turned out worse for the player.

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