Western Bulldogs defender Zaine Cordy has avoided suspension at the AFL Tribunal for his bump on GWS Giants midfielder Tanner Bruhn.
Cordy was referred directly to the Tribunal by the Match Review Officer on Sunday night, with the incident in question going 'ungraded'.
Vision of the incident shows Cordy elect to bump Bruhn off the ball, with the young Giant floored and suffering a concussion, with the head injury believed to be sustained when Bruhn's head hot the ground.
At the AFL Tribunal on Thursday night, the league's counsel stated they viewed Cordy's actions as careless conduct, high impact and body contact, a charge that would result in a one-match suspension.
Cordy pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Such a tough decision over Cordyโs shepherd on Bruhn, who finished up concussed. It was a shoulder to shoulder bump within the legal five metres. Itโs two weeks or itโs no charge. Does he bear any responsibility? No idea what will happen. https://t.co/b8HTU9x8ao pic.twitter.com/hy6wmBoa8d
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) August 14, 2022
The AFL's counsel Nicholas Pane argued that Cordy's actions were unreasonable, with Fox Footy'sย David Zita revealing that Pane stated Cordy's force in his bump was "excessive".
"Cordy should've recognised electing to bump in the manner he did had the potential to cause injury," Pane inferred.ย
"Cordy is aware of the height difference and did not significantly lower his body.
"The force was excessive for the situation.
"Regardless of whether the bump was within five metres of the ball or whether it was a block, his actions were unreasonable in the circumstances ... forceful bump to the upper body in manner it was delivered could result in jolting of head and consequent injury."
In their rebuttal, the Bulldogs expressed that the jury must view Cordy's action as unreasonable in order to hand him a sanction.
"It's really important that we don't start from the proposition that 'he's concussed, he must've committed an offence.' The rules simply do not apply to that," the Dogs' counsel said.
"This is a classic block. The rules should continue to allow for it."
The jury and its chair came to the decision that Cordy had no case to answer for.
The avoided suspension will see Cordy available for Sunday's clash with Hawthorn at UTAS Stadium.
