Emerging West Coast ruckman Bailey Williams will be available for Saturday night’s RAC Derby against Fremantle after his one-match suspension for rough conduct was successfully challenged and dismissed.
Williams challenged the one-match ban offered by the Match Review Officer after he was cited for an incident involving Essendon’s Mason Redman that was deemed to be careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
West Coast Eagles counsel David Grace QC, representing Williams, debated the impact should have been graded as low instead of medium, and that it wasn’t careless conduct, Williams was bracing for an unavoidable collision.
Giving evidence, Williams said he had his arms down low as he intended to tackle Redman, then braced for impact when the ball was fumbled.
Essendon’s medical report stated Redman required no treatment after the incident and no ongoing treatment.
The jury deliberated for just under two and a half hours before dismissing the charge.