BRENT Harvey is free to face the Sydney Swans in Friday night's preliminary final after Geelong captain Joel Selwood gave key evidence to help clear the North Melbourne veteran.
 
Harvey faced the prospect of missing his team's first preliminary final in seven years because of a high bump that forced Selwood from the ground bleeding and requiring four stitches.
 
However, the Tribunal deemed that clash, which occurred in last Friday night's semi final at the MCG, was of insufficient force to constitute rough conduct.
Geelong submitted a medical report that stated it was possible Selwood could bleed more above his right eye because of past injuries to the area.
 
Champion Data statistics were also submitted, showing Selwood had left the ground under the blood rule 14 times in the past three seasons – more than any other player.

"I think he (Selwood) just came in and told the truth. If I see him out after we play in a Grand Final I will certainly buy him a beer," Harvey said as he left AFL House.
 
"You would never know, it's an absolutely amazing feeling.
 
"Obviously I missed the first final, but I get to run out with them again this week, so I'm absolutely stoked and can't wait for this weekend."
 
Harvey could ordinarily have accepted a reprimand for his charge, but a 10 per cent bad record loading and 41 carryover points meant he faced a week on the sidelines.  
 
Geelong's medical report stated Selwood had suffered repeated lacerations above his right eye and it was "possible the scar tissue resulting from these injuries is susceptible to being reopened".  
 
Pictures were also submitted to the jury of Wayne Henwood, David Neitz and Emmett Dunne showing Selwood suffering cuts above his right eye in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
 
In his evidence to the Tribunal, Selwood said he was unaware contact was made to his head in the collision with Harvey and he only became aware he bleeding when he felt a trickle above his right eye that was "thicker than sweat".
 
Represented by Will Houghton QC, Harvey told the Tribunal he laid a "block" on Selwood because the team had been focused on stopping the star Cat from receiving follow-up possessions after he had disposed of the ball.
 
"I thought I did most of the things right," he said. 
 
I was side on and my elbow was tucked in … I thought I checked his run quite well."
 
AFL counsel Jeff Gleeson QC asserted there was "more than negligible force" and Selwood's injury was consistent with the degree of impact in the clash of heads.
 
In an unusual move, Tribunal chairman David Jones instructed the jury that "things are not always as they appear", referring to star Cat Steve Johnson's kneeing charge on Kangaroo Scott Thompson in round 19.
 
Johnson was also aided by an opponent's evidence, with Thompson revealing his reaction after contact was made to his ribs was due to an existing injury – which Johnson was not aware of – rather than the force of the blow.  
 
Jones told the jury in his final directions: "It must be forceful contact, mere contact is not sufficient", with the jury then taking 10 minutes to clear the veteran.

In light of the verdict, the AFL Players Association agreed a head clash should not necessarily constitute a reportable offence.
 
However, player relations manager Ian Prendergast took aim at the 2014 system, which penalises players for past behaviour.
 
"Whether you agree or disagree with the MRP’s assessment of the incident, it is ultimately Boomer’s carryover points and bad record loading which may have caused him to miss a preliminary final," Prendergast told AFL.com.au.  
 
Prendergast said the AFLPA had presented its preferred Tribunal system to the AFL in 2013 and that model did not have carryover points and loadings.
 
Additional reporting - Peter Ryan