Charlie Gardiner has been cleared of a high contact charge by the VFL tribunal and will take his place against Coburg in the grand final.

Gardiner was reported midway through the final quarter of the Cats preliminary final win over North Ballarat last Saturday.

The tribunal accepted Gardiner’s case and cleared him of the charge.

Geelong face Coburg on Sunday at MC Labour park (previously known as Optus Oval) for the VFL premiership. The Cats were beaten grand finalist last year, going down to Sandringham in a thrilling finale.

Gardiner was a member of the Geelong line up in that game and was also a key member of the Cats 2002 VFL premiership win over Port Melbourne, kicking the clinching goal.