Selwood, Franklin cleared by AFL panel

The AFL’s match review panel has cleared Sydney star forward Lance Franklin and Geelong’s captain Joel Selwood to play in this weekend’s final round.

The panel released its findings on Monday after viewing footage of Franklin’s heavy bump on the Western Bulldogs’ Jack Macrae and Selwood’s clash with Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead.

Selwood and Roughead tangled during the second quarter of Saturday night’s game at the MCG.

“Selwood is tackled over the boundary line by Roughead. It was the view of the panel the force used in the high contact after the tackle was made was below that required to constitute a reportable offence,” the panel said in a statement.

Selwood briefly pinned his elbow on the throat of Roughead.

Third-placed Geelong host 15th-placed Brisbane on Saturday night at Simonds Stadium.

Sydney’s Franklin, who holds a nine-goal lead over former teammate Roughead in the Coleman Medal with one round remaining, crashed into the lightly framed Macrae during the third quarter of Sunday’s game at Etihad Stadium.

Macrae, who is 19kg lighter than the 102kg Franklin, was in the act of kicking the ball when Franklin made high contact.

“Franklin comes to the contest with his arms out to tackle and makes high contact as Macrae disposes of the ball,” the panel said.

“Franklin’s actions were a legitimate attempt to tackle and were not a reportable action.”

Sydney host Richmond at ANZ Stadium on Saturday as the eighth-placed Tigers bid to claim a ninth consecutive win and complete a fairytale run into the finals series.

The in-form Franklin kicked six goals against the Bulldogs to boost his season tally to 67 as he closes in on his third Coleman Medal and first with Sydney.

Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones has been offered a $1950 fine for making reckless contact with an umpire during Saturday’s game against West Coast in Perth.

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