While the airbridge may have been in the wrong place, it was not just slightly infringing on the space through which the plane needed to pass -- it was likely at least 30 feet closer to the plane than it should have been. After all, it didn't hit the wingtip, it hit the outboard engine. Further, it would have been passing right by the Captain's LHS window before the collision occurred.
Wouldn't one expect the Captain to have noticed that this obstruction was way closer to the airplane than it should have been? There are many times that I have been on a plane that stopped short of the gate because the Captain reported that something was blocking the clearway. It seems to me that this ding only required two holes in the swiss cheese -- and unfortunately in addition to the marshallers, the Captain may have been one of them. But until we read the official report, nothing is certain.