Vince in clear over collision
By Michelangelo Rucci
March 12, 2008 ADELAIDE midfielder Bernie Vince will not face the AFL tribunal for his collision with St Kilda half-forward Xavier Clarke in the NAB Cup grand final.
And match-day reports against Melbourne half-forward Russell Robertson and Carlton midfielder Marc Murphy were dismissed by the AFL match review panel on Tuesday - meaning the tribunal will not sit.
No melee charge was served to any Collingwood or Hawthorn player for their "push-and-shove" moment in a trial game on Friday.
Vince's collision with Clarke, in the third term of the Cup final at AAMI Stadium, was flagged to Andrew McKay's panel.
But the inevitable contact - from Vince jumping in an attempt to spoil Clarke's successful kick at goal and Clarke being pushed forward by Adelaide midfielder Jason Porplyzia - did not even merit explanation yesterday, from either Vince or the AFL judiciary.
"Nor should it," said Adelaide football operations manager John Reid.
Robertson and Murphy were both reported by umpires for allegedly making prohibited front-on contact with Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne) and Mitch Hahn (Western Bulldogs) respectively during trial games at the weekend.
McKay's panel ruled the bumps by Robertson and Murphy were unavoidable or just as much a result of the actions of the bumped players.
Meanwhile, Port Adelaide's eagerness to score their first win of the AFL pre-season has cost them $3000.
Power forward Brett Ebert spent the first 30 seconds of the third term in the trial game against Collingwood at Princes Park on the field as the 19th man.
He did not touch the ball in this time because he was trying to get off the field, realising the error.
This breach of the rule allowing only 18 players on the field was not challenged by Port when they was contacted by the AFL last week.
It is the second time in the pre-season the AFL has rebuked a club for violating the interchange process.
But Port's fine is less than the $7000 slapped on Hawthorn last week for having 19 men - the offending player being Brent Guerra - on the field during the NAB Cup quarter-final against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.
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not typo in third last sentence
