Waite’s AFL striking report thrown out

Jarrad Waite’s report for striking has been thrown out by the AFL match review panel.

The North Melbourne forward went into the umpire’s book after he made high contact with Hawthorn’s Ben Stratton in Sunday’s NAB Challenge game in Shepparton.

However, the MRP found that Waite was entitled to spoil and the high contact made with his bicep was below the force required for a report.

The finding vindicates Brad Scott’s assertion after the match that Waite was guilty of being clumsy more than anything else.

“He jumps really early at the footy and sometimes if he misjudges that jump he gets himself into a terrible position, so he either crashes into someone or it’s a clumsy spoil,” Scott said.

“I think that as long as the intent is good, like the Jack Ziebell one a couple of years ago, we will coach the intent and if they make a mistake we’ll try to work with them around trying to get the decision right.”

Gold Coast forward Tom Lynch wasn’t so lucky with the MRP charging him with engaging in rough conduct against Matthew Buntine in the Suns’ clash with GWS.

Lynch can accept a one-match ban with an early guilty plea after the incident was classified as careless conduct with medium impact to the head.

The Suns forward will miss the opening round of the season if he does so, and risks a two-match ban if he takes his case to the tribunal and loses.

In the only other incident assessed by the MRP, St Kilda’s Billy Longer was charged with striking Essendon’s Paul Chapman.

The incident was assessed as careless conduct with low impact to the head, which attracts a $1500 fine that drops to $1000 if he pleads guilty.

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