A relieved Trent Cotchin is free to lead Richmond into their first AFL grand final in 35 long years.
The match review panel deliberated for a couple of hours on Monday before ruling that the Tigers skipper had no case to answer for his high bump on Greater Western Sydney star Dylan Shiel in last weekend's preliminary final.
The Giants midfielder later failed a concussion test and was unable to finish the match which the Tigers won by 36 points, with Cotchin earning best afield honours.
"Cotchin moves down low and braces for contact as Shiel approaches to pick up the ball," the MRP said in explaining its decision not to lay a rough-conduct charge.
"It was the view of the panel that Cotchin was seeking to win possession as his line of direction was always towards the ball and not his opponent.
"The panel determined that Cotchin was seeking to contest the ball and therefore contact was not unreasonable in the circumstances."
Cotchin risked becoming the first player to miss an AFL grand final because of a preliminary-final suspension since Collingwood's Anthony Rocca in 2003.
The 27-year-old Cotchin was walking a tightrope as he had twice been fined earlier this year for minor indiscretions.
A third charge - even if the contact had been deemed as low - would have triggered a ban.
"Obviously I'm relieved in a sense given there was so much attention about it," Cotchin said on Monday.
"As it always has been, it's about the process and we're looking forward to a big week on the track and hopefully an even bigger Saturday.
"I was pretty relaxed.
"My intention was always going for the footy so I was glad that's the way they ruled it.
"That's about all that was in my control."
The MRP also cleared Tigers defender Brandon Ellis and Adelaide prime mover Rory Sloane.
Ellis was not cited for his high bump on Giant Lachie Whitfield.
Sloane was cleared over a high bump on Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield in the first preliminary final which the Crows won by 61 points.
It means that the showpiece match of the AFL season will have a full complement of superstars, a situation welcomed by Adelaide ruckman San Jacobs.
"Knowing Trent, knowing the way he prepares, he is obviously a really strong competitor, he goes hard at the footy," said Jacobs.
"I think he plays the game the right way and it's exciting for them now that their captain is available."
There is no doubt Cotchin would have appeared at the tribunal on Tuesday, had he been charged. Even if cleared then or on appeal, it would have made a high-pressure week all the more stressful.
Sydney's Andrew Dunkley and Barry Hall contested the 1996 and 2005 grand finals after being booked for preliminary-final indiscretions.
"It should have been the best week of my life," said Dunkley, who obtained a Supreme Court injunction which allowed him to play in the 1996 decider.
"Instead, it was one of the worst."
Dunkley was later suspended for the 1997 pre-season competition and the first two rounds of the home-and-away season for striking Essendon's James Hird.
The Tigers will be looking to end a 37-year premiership drought on Saturday, while the Crows have not contested a grand final since winning their second flag back in 1998.
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