Gold Coast defender Charlie Ballard has had his one-match ban for striking reduced to a fine at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.
Ballard and the Suns opted to challenge his suspension at the Tribunal after the MRO judged that he struck Essendon’s Matt Guelfi in Sunday’s loss at Marvel Stadium.
The incident occurred in the third quarter the Round 2 clash with Ballard collecting Guelfi with a raised arm that collected the Don high as players jostled for position ahead of a marking contest.
The @GoldCoastSUNS will challenge Charlie Ballard’s one-game ban for striking at the Tribunal.
— AFL (@AFL) March 28, 2023
Details: https://t.co/uvPuBxmKRM pic.twitter.com/cAovAeii9s
After the Match Review Officer graded the strike as low impact, intentional conduct and high contact, Ballard and the Suns successfully argued that his strike wasn’t intentional.
It means the 23-year-old will be available for Gold Coast’s clash against Geelong at home on Sunday.