Geelong midfielder James Bartel is free to play in the grand final of the Wizard Home Loans Cup after being cleared of a charge of attempting to trip Melbourne’s James McDonald by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.

Bartel, who was one of the Cats best players in their one-point defeat of the Demons in last Friday night’s semi-final, pleaded not guilty to the report and argued that his movement towards McDonald’s legs in the dying seconds of the game was involuntary.

Tribunal chairman Brian Collis found that Bartel had made slight contact with McDonald in the incident, but could not be satisfied that it was a deliberate action designed to trip his opponent.

A running McDonald was confronted by Bartel with 40 seconds remaining in the match at Telstra Dome. The young Cat initially attempted to smother a feigned McDonald kick, before overbalancing, losing his footing and falling to the ground. His right foot crossed the path of McDonald as he fell.

Field umpire Michael Vozzo laid the report on the night, and said the video evidence supported his belief that Bartel’s action was intended to halt the progression of McDonald.

“It was a deliberate movement of his (Bartel’s) right foot,” Vozzo told the tribunal.

“He made some slight contact with the leg of McDonald and he appeared to stumble.”

McDonald said the incident had happened too quickly for him to recall specifics, but told the tribunal he had not felt contact from Bartel’s leg.

Twenty year-old Bartel was the eighth pick of the 2001 national draft, and has played 24 senior matches since debuting for the Cats.

He amassed 23 touches against Melbourne in last Friday night’s match.