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Demons all clear ahead of AFL semi-final

AFL match review officer Michael Christian has handed out fines but no suspensions after the first two matches of the AFL finals series.

Demons
The Demons long-awaited AFL finals win over Geelong has not been tarnished by tribunal dramas. (AAP)

Melbourne won't have any AFL tribunal dramas to worry about ahead of their semi-final clash with Hawthorn.

AFL match review officer Michael Christian assessed the Demons' elimination final win over Geelong and found no charges needed to be laid.

Melbourne's Aaron VandenBerg was the only player with a slight question mark over contact with the Cats' Jordan Murdoch in the second quarter on Friday night.

"Murdoch gathered the ball with VandenBerg coming towards him from front-on," an AFL statement issued on Saturday read.

"VandenBerg made high contact in the tackle but it was the view of the match review officer that the Melbourne player made a genuine attempt to tackle and his actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances."

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Richmond forward Josh Caddy wasn't so lucky after Christian reviewed the Tigers' qualifying final win over the Hawks.

Caddy is $3000 out of pocket for two misconduct incidents involving Hawthorn tagger Daniel Howe.

But Caddy and teammates Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance were cleared to play in their preliminary final.

No charges were laid against Cotchin, Riewoldt and Rance, while Hawks captain Jarryd Roughead and Paul Puopolo also were cleared.

Caddy stomped on Howe's hand and also caught the Hawk player's head between his legs in a wrestling move as they grappled during the second quarter.

The Tigers forward was fined $1500 apiece for the two offences.

Cotchin escaped sanction after he caught Hawthorn star Shaun Burgoyne with high contact in the first quarter.

The Tigers captain gave up a free kick, but Burgoyne missed the simple shot at goal.

Puopolo and Rance were cleared for a scuffle with each other and the Hawks small forward also faces no charge for another incident involving Daniel Rioli.

Roughead faced scrutiny for his high bump on Reece Conca and Riewoldt's open-handed hit on James Sicily was also reviewed before he was cleared.


2 min read

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Source: AAP


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