Weekly Times |TRARALGON coach Mark Collison is free to play the Gippsland league grand final after he was reprimanded at the tribunal last night.
Collison fronted the independent tribunal for striking Leongatha’s Ash Lynch, a charge stemming from the first quarter of the second semi-final clash on September 12, which Traralgon won by nine points to advance to the decider.
Collison pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The tribunal found him guilty and he received a severe reprimand and no suspension.
Traralgon and Leongatha will meet again in Saturday’s decider, after the Parrots defeated Maffra in the preliminary final on Sunday.
The Weekly Times understands Lynch had to leave the ground initially with a blood rule, and again in the second quarter, but did play out the semi-final.
He also played the preliminary final, but required stitches to his cheek.
The tribunal viewed video footage of the incident.
Collison said he was glad to have the hearing out of the way and was preparing for the grand final on Saturday.
“I am really happy with the process, and obviously I’m just looking forward to getting on with the weekend,” he said.
“I’m happy with the outcome ... I’ve never been reported and it’s not in my nature to do something like that.
“I’m glad the process has come out my way.”
Leongatha coach Beau Vernon declined to comment, saying he preferred to focus o the upcoming grand final.