WEST Coast defender Will Schofield is free to play the Western Bulldogs on Saturday after successfully fighting a controversial striking charge at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.
Schofield challenged a one-match ban offered by the Match Review Panel for clipping Melbourne youngster Clayton Oliver on the chin with his elbow during a half-time fracas at Domain Stadium last Saturday night.
The MRP graded the incident as intentional and low impact to Oliver's head and took Melbourne's medical report into account when assessing the action.
But the Tribunal jury found in Schofield's favour after his counsel, David Grace QC, argued the force was negligible during an hour-long hearing.
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The jury only needed about five minutes to decide Schofield was not guilty.
The Demons' medical report stated Oliver self-reported a painful jaw at half-time and after the game, but that it required no treatment and that he wouldn't miss any training sessions or a match.
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Describing the incident to the Tribunal, Schofield claimed Oliver was blocking his path to the change rooms and that he tried to push his opponent away with his forearm and made "very slight" contact with Oliver's chin with his elbow.
The Eagle said he was surprised that Oliver fell to the ground.
Grace showed footage of Oliver chasing Schofield after he got up from the ground and suggested the young Demon hit the Eagles defender on the back with his chin, which could have caused his sore jaw.
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Umpire Brett Rosebury, who laid the report, was called to give evidence while seven photos were also shown.
Speaking after the hearing, a relieved Schofield said he was surprised the incident ended up at the Tribunal.
"Yeah (I'm) relieved, certainly, I didn't know how that one was going to go, but obviously I'm really happy and satisfied with the decision," Schofield said.
"I was charged with low (impact) but it was deemed negligible.
"I was a little surprised (it needed to go as far as the Tribunal) but like I said I'm really happy with the result.
"All I want to do is play (this) week, and I've given myself the opportunity to, I just need to get picked by Simmo now."