Gary Ablett's illustrious record remains unblemished after the AFL tribunal overturned the first suspension of the Geelong star's career.
After 24 hours of intense debate, the tribunal jury on Tuesday night took just three minutes to find the two-time Brownlow Medallist not guilty of intentionally striking Essendon opponent Dylan Shiel during Sunday's game at the MCG.
Ablett, who arrived late to a contest and caught Shiel in the head with his forearm, was instead charged with careless conduct and handed a $2000 fine.
Player advocate Ben Ihle then submitted that Ablett's exemplary record meant his fine should also be torn up - a claim the jury briefly retired to consider but did not endorse.
Ablett is nonetheless free to face North Melbourne on Sunday, while the 34-year-old's record of never having been suspended in 328 games remains intact.
"I'm very happy with the outcome. I've never intentionally struck anyone in my career," he told reporters.
"Obviously we were just focused on what happened on the weekend. I didn't intentionally go to strike and I'm glad it played out the way it did."
Ablett gave evidence during Tuesday night's 90-minute hearing, saying he had intended to tackle Shiel - who played out the game and was among Essendon's best players - before the Bombers midfielder disposed of the ball.
Ablett said he had been running close to top speed when he spun to his side in an attempt to minimise contact, also raising his forearm to remain balanced.
"I felt I had a split second to make a decision and was my intent was never to hurt him," Ablett said.
"My intent was just to get away from the contest as best as possible while making sure that neither of us got hurt.
"I felt at the time I did a pretty good job and that was part of the reason why I was surprised when the umpire told me I was reported."
AFL counsel Jeff Gleeson QC was skeptical that a player of Ablett's dexterity couldn't have avoided the contact, arguing it would be a "distorted" judgment to view the strike as unintentional on the basis of his exemplary record.
"The substance of what he says to you is 'I struck him but I didn't mean to'," Gleeson told the jury.
"It's open to you to conclude when you look at the vision that that's not correct. To conclude otherwise requires you to decide that Gary Ablett was not only incapable of avoiding any significant contact with Dylan Shiel but of avoiding this contact."
But the jury were ultimately convinced by Ihle's closing appeal to consider Ablett's reputation for fairness and honesty.
"His record speaks for itself," Ihle said.
