BRISBANE Lion Jamie Charman has been cleared of a striking charge at the AFL Tribunal, freeing him to play in the opening game of next season.

Charman was charged over contact made with his left forearm to the back of Sydney co-captain Brett Kirk, which caused the Swans midfielder to fall to the ground during the second quarter of Saturday night's match at the SCG.

But Lions football operations manager Marcus Ashcroft, speaking on behalf of Charman, successfully argued that the hit was not of sufficient force to constitute a strike.

Ashcroft, a former Brisbane triple-premiership player, said that type of contact was typical of what occurred in Lions-Swans clashes.

"We believe this niggle contact happened regularly throughout this match and happens regularly between the Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions with the healthy rivalry that has been built up between these two clubs," Ashcroft said.

He said footage of the incident showed Kirk turning around to see who made contact, then getting up with a "smirk" on his face, indicating he was not hurt.

Ashcroft said the Sydney player then tried to trip Charman as they went to the next contest.

Tribunal counsel Jeff Gleeson earlier said while the contact was not vicious, a blow to the kidney region had the potential to cause serious injury.

Charman's penalty loading for previous offences meant he would have faced a one-match ban had he pleaded guilty to the charge, which would otherwise have earned him only a reprimand.

He will now be able to play in the Lions' first game under newly appointed coach Michael Voss in 2009.

Charman's escape means the only suspension stemming from the final round of the home and away season was a one-game ban for Carlton's Nick Stevens.

Stevens will miss the Blues' 2009 season-opener, after pleading guilty to striking Hawthorn's Rick Ladson during Saturday night's game at Telstra Dome.