“And, to be honest, the way that the broader football public would view me as a footballer if I was to slow momentum and pull out of that contest just because there was going to be impact between two players.”
Pearce said he sprinted at full speed to close the space between himself and Byrne-Jones and ideally take a chest mark.
“I’m aware that there is going to be a collision between the two of us,” he said.
“At that point, I drop my (left) arm and brace for the impact … to limit the impact as much as possible.
Pearce is free to lead out the Dockers against the Suns on Saturday.Credit: AFL Photos
“I thought I had made a play at the ball … it felt like it was just a collision in the marking contest.”
Pearce said he was disappointed to be penalised a free kick, let alone suspension.
“Given my role as a defender and role as captain of our club, I don’t believe that in that situation again I would be able to make a different decision than go at that ball and at that contest 100 per cent and make a play at the ball,” he said.
After an hour-long hearing, the three-member tribunal deliberated for about 30 minutes before chair Jeff Gleeson dismissed the charge.
“Pearce’s attempt to mark was entirely realistic,” Gleeson said.
“If not for Byrne-Jones entering the contest from the opposite direction, he would likely have taken the mark.
“We do not find that this was rough conduct.”
AAP
Geelong facing fines for breaches picked up by AFL audit
Peter Ryan
The AFL is expected to fine Geelong for administrative breaches relating to their total player payments after an extensive audit of the club’s salary cap.
Two competition sources confirmed the expectation was the club would be sanctioned but the breaches were relatively minor.
Cats players celebrate their win over the Western Bulldogs last round.Credit: Getty Images
One source compared the potential sanction to the $10,000 fine received by the Brisbane Lions in 2017, however the actual penalty is yet to be signed off.
Half of the Lions fine at the time was suspended as they co-operated with the AFL in admitting the breach of the league’s total player payment rules.
The league conducts regular audits on clubs’ adherence to player payment rules. The Cats and Port Adelaide were the clubs put under the microscope this season.
Caroline Wilson reported on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters on Monday night the AFL had accepted nothing untoward had happened and no officials, players, managers or coaches were expected to be sanctioned.
Geelong coach Chris Scott is also the chief of leadership and performance at Morris Finance, and wears the company’s logo on game days.Credit: AFL Photos
“Geelong have been adamant from the word go that there is no smoking gun here, that nothing untoward was going on at the Geelong Football Club in terms of any attempt to hide third-party payments,” Wilson said.
“The AFL accepts this. But there have been discrepancies. There have been lodgements that should have been noted that weren’t and they will lead to several five-figure fines.”
Cats coach Chris Scott’s role with Morris Finance, a club sponsor, is also understood to be considered within the rules.
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There has been widespread speculation about the connection between club sponsor Cotton On and brand ambassador Bailey Smith since he joined the Cats. However, he signed his deal with Cotton On when he was playing with the Bulldogs.
Wilson said the AFL probe extended to player payments within the Cats AFLW program.
“One major lodgement issue was a car to a senior AFLW player that wasn’t lodged,” she reported.
Geelong have yet to receive any notification from the AFL, and declined to comment. The AFL was contacted for comment.
