WEST Coast captain Darren Glass is free to play the Western Bulldogs on Sunday after successfully challenging his three-game ban for rough conduct on Port Adelaide's Paul Stewart at the Tribunal on Tuesday night.
It was a bad night for Fremantle, however, with star midfielder Nat Fyfe banned for two matches after unsuccessfully contesting his deliberate kicking charge.
Fyfe attempted to have his charge downgraded from intentional to reckless conduct, but will now miss clashes against Gold Coast and Collingwood after the charge was upheld.
He could have pleaded guilty to the initial charge and only missed one match, but Fremantle's decision to challenge means he will now miss the club's crunch round seven clash against the Magpies.
The pre-season Brownlow Medal fancy is also ineligible for that award and will be left with 50 carryover points on his record.
It was the first kicking charge to be upheld since Setanta o'hAilpin was found guilty of kicking Cameron Cloke in a practice match in 2009.
Darryl White (Brisbane Lions), Kasey Green (West Coast), Steven Baker (St Kilda) and Paul Medhust (Fremantle) are the other players to have been found guilty of kicking in the last 10 years.
Glass emerged successful after a marathon two-and-a-half hour sitting, with the jury of Wayne Henwood, Wayne Schimmelbusch and Emmett Dunne deeming forceful high contact was not made to Stewart.
Glass was reported at the time by umpire Troy Pannell, who gave evidence on Tuesday night.
However, video footage of the incident was not conclusive. Glass also said he used his hands to try and limit contact and prevent a clash of heads.
Tribunal chairman David Jones took the unusual step of endorsing the decision and said Pannell should not be criticised for making the report and giving evidence based on what he saw.
Nathan Schmook is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
