Geelong coach Chris Scott has defended Gary Ablett, saying it is poor technique rather than bad intent that has put the Geelong star under scrutiny.
Ablett and fellow Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe were cleared of incidents where they made high contact in Sunday matches.
The AFL called Ablett’s high forearm on North Melbourne opponent Sam Wright an intentional striking action, but ruled there was insufficient force to go ahead with a charge.
The same applied for Fyfe in his high contact with Richmond key forward Tom Lynch.
It is the second week in a row that Ablett has faced match review scrutiny for high contact as he tried to block an opponent.
Ablett was offered a one-game ban for striking Essendon onballer Dylan Shiel, but successfully went to the tribunal last week and it was downgraded to a fine.
Asked if Ablett was lucky in the wake of Sunday’s incident, Scott told AFL 360: “lucky in the sense he did put himself in that position.”
Scott denied Ablett was picking off opposition players, instead arguing that the Cats star is using a technique called bumper-barring.
Scott said it is used to stop an opponent after he gives a handball, by blocking him with a forearm to the chest.
“Where Gary’s got it wrong is that he’s jumped off the ground and raised his arm too high and made contact above the shoulder,” Scott said.
While Ablett and Fyfe are in the clear, North Melbourne could go to the tribunal for Sam Durdin’s rough conduct charge.
Durdin was offered a one-game ban after his bump concussed Geelong forward Gary Rohan.
He is the only player facing suspension after round eight, with West Coast star Jeremy McGovern, Hawthorn defender James Frawley and Carlton young gun Sam Walsh offered fines.