North’s Harvey cleared of ban
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North Melbourne’s veteran midfielder Brent Harvey has had a one-match ban at the AFL tribunal overturned on Tuesday night, leaving him free to play in Friday night’s preliminary final against the Swans at ANZ Stadium.
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Harvey left the hearing with a huge grin and said it was an amazing feeling.
The 36-year-old veteran of 383 games was charged with a rough-conduct offence by the AFL’s match-review panel after his bump on Geelong’s Joel Selwood during the second quarter of last Friday’s semi-final at the MCG.
Harvey and Selwood clashed heads in the incident. The Geelong skipper had to leave the field for treatment to a cut above his right eye.
Selwood told the tribunal the contact was minimal. The jury deliberated for 10 minutes before deciding the impact was not forceful and dismissed the charge.
Harvey was suspended in round 21 for misconduct and missed three games including North’s elimination-final win over Essendon on September 6.