The AFL match review panel has suffered another blow to its credibility with St Kilda onballer Leigh Montagna beating his charge in remarkable circumstances.
Only a couple of hours before Montagna was due at the tribunal, the AFL announced the withdrawal of his striking charge.
Montagna was risking a three-match suspension by challenging the charge.
Tribunal counsel Jeff Gleeson SC recommended the unprecedented decision after Montagna and Melbourne opponent James Magner spoke to him about their clash during Saturday night's game at the MCG.
While the match review panel had booked Montagna for hitting the Demon, the two players told Gleeson the only significant contact in their scuffle was an accidental knee to Magner's cheek.
Magner had to leave the field briefly under the blood rule because of the contact.
It is the first time since the introduction of the current tribunal system in 2005 that, after a player has decided to mount a challenge, the AFL has withdrawn the charge before the hearing.
The panel was already under fire this week after Brisbane tagger Andrew Raines was cleared for his contact with Joel Selwood as the Geelong captain went for the ball in Saturday night's game.
Selwood was also cleared for an incident later in the match where he hit Raines, but the Lion accepted a one-game ban for hitting him back.
Adelaide forward Taylor Walker escaped with a reprimand for kneeing Port Adelaide's Jacob Surjan.
Another aspect of the Montagna case is that it continues an unlikely run of success for players at the tribunal in the past few weeks.
Geelong's Steve Johnson, North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas and Hawthorn utility Brendan Whitecross have all beaten rough conduct charges at the tribunal, which goes against the trend of the past few seasons.
Magner went on Twitter to welcome the withdrawal of Montagna's charge.
"Glad to see Montagna cleared, was an accident and I'm glad it's all worked out well," he posted.
Gleeson spoke to the two players after St Kilda informed the league it would call Magner as a witness - an unusual tactic in the current system.
"Montagna and Magner both informed me that the only significant contact from Montagna to Magner was contact from Montagna's knee to the cheek of Magner," Gleeson said in an AFL statement.
"They both said that Magner pulled Montagna to the ground and in the course of, or immediately after, that happening, Montagna's knee accidentally knocked Magner's cheek.
"I conducted a further review of the video evidence in light of this explanation and it is consistent with the explanation.
"In particular, Magner's pained response is immediate and noticeable and is coincident with the time at which the knee appears to have made contact with his face."
Gleeson decided there was "no reasonable prospect" that the tribunal jury would find that Montagna had struck Magner.
It is a massive win for the Saints, who face a tough month of matches.
After Saturday night's clash against out-of-form Hawthorn, they will play Carlton, West Coast away and Sydney at home.
Western Bulldogs utility Patrick Veszpremi has accepted a reprimand and 93.75 carry-over points for making contact with the head of Greater Western Sydney youngster Tomas Bugg, who earned the round-five rising star nomination on Tuesday.
Gold Coast's Kyal Horsley has been fined $900 for making negligent contact with an umpire.
Port Adelaide key forward Justin Westhoff was docked $900 for making an obscene gesture during the first quarter of Sunday's Showdown.
AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, st-kilda-3182, vic, australia First posted May 01, 2012 12:55:47