West Coast gun Elliot Yeo is free to play in Saturday night’s blockbuster against Geelong after his one-match striking ban was overturned by the AFL Tribunal.
Yeo challenged the suspension offered for an incident involving Collingwood’s Rupert Wills during last Sunday’s win over the Pies, which was graded by Match Review Officer Michael Christian as Intentional Conduct, Low Impact and High Contact.
The Eagles’ counsel David Grace QC argued the force was not enough to constitute a reportable offence, with Yeo declaring he hit Wills with an open palm to his chest which may have brushed his neck.
Collingwood’s medical report stated Wills didn’t require treatment at the time or afterwards, and was not expected to miss any football.
Giving evidence which was paused briefly as a jury member dropped out of the video conference, Yeo said he made contact with Wills to create separation and to take his position at the stoppage.
He believed Wills’ head jolted back to avoid contact, rather than recoiling from any impact.
Yeo said Wills did not say anything after the incident or remonstrate, and the controlling field umpire also said nothing to him.
AFL counsel Jeff Gleeson QC cross-examined Yeo, and argued the Eagle was annoyed Wills nudged him and turned around to remonstrate.
Yeo argued that he turned around to watch the flight of the ball from the boundary throw-in and said that he had no intention of striking Wills in the face.
The jury deliberated for about 30 minutes before returning a verdict of not guilty.
