BRISBANE Lions captain Tom Rockliff has successfully challenged his striking charge at the Tribunal on Tuesday night and avoided a $1500 fine.
Rockliff was charged by the Match Review Panel on Monday for a stray elbow that made high contact to Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis in last Saturday's clash against West Coast at the Gabba.
The star midfielder was the first player to challenge a financial sanction this season and used a series of 76 slides from 10 seconds of footage to build his case.
Rockliff argued he was rolling out of a tackle and attempting to push Priddis away with his palm when circumstances intervened and lifted his elbow into his opponent's face.
The unexpected circumstance was Eagle Luke Shuey's boot, which became lodged under Rockliff's arm and lifted it higher than intended, eventually forcing contact with Priddis' nose.
The jury of Wayne Henwood, Stewart Loewe and Paul Williams agreed, taking seven minutes to dismiss the charge.
It was the first time the Tribunal has cleared a player this season.
"It was brought about by him (Rockliff) reaching back to press Priddis away with the palm of his hand," the Lions skipper's counsel Gavin Handran told the jury.
The AFL's prosecutor, Renee Enbom, argued that an elbow to a player's face could not be incidental to a pushing motion and it was not the act of a prudent player.
The last player to challenge a financial sanction was Western Bulldogs ruckman Luke Goetz, who unsuccessfully fought a misconduct charge during the NAB Challenge.
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