Morabito cleared to play in derby
Fremantle midfielder Anthony Morabito will be available to make an AFL comeback in the western derby after being cleared of a rough conduct charge at the WAFL Tribunal last night.
Morabito, who has played every match for Peel this season in his return from a third knee reconstruction, was found not guilty over his bump on Claremont's Tom Ledger last Saturday.
The powerful Docker had been offered a two-week suspension by the WAFL report review panel, but was vindicated over his decision to defend the matter.
Tribunal chairman Paul Heaney said it was clear that Morabito only had eyes for the ball when he made contact with Ledger and that accidental high contact did not constitute an offence.
"If a player is going for the ball and he makes contact with another player's head then it is an accident," Heaney said.
"It happens all day every day."
Morabito's Fremantle teammate Tom Vandeleur was also cleared after being reported for striking Jack Bradshaw behind the play in the same match.
Bradshaw claimed the Dockers rookie punched him after first blocking his path.
"He stopped my run back to goal then gave me a short-arm jab into my gut," Bradshaw said.
Earlier, Perth player Chris Billings was cleared of rough conduct after being charged with dropping his knees into Swan Districts opponent Aaron Jetta in the round-five reserves match.
