FREMANTLE star Nathan Fyfe is free to play in Sunday’s blockbuster against Hawthorn after being cleared by the Match Review Panel on Monday.
Fyfe found himself under the scrutiny of the MRP following a high hit on Geelong’s Andrew Mackie in Saturday night’s loss to the Cats at Simonds Stadium.
The MRP contended, however, the Fremantle midfielder had no other realistic way to contest the ball and thus is free to tackle the Hawks at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.
A statement on the findings of the MRP for Round 20 stated: “Fyfe was coming towards him to make a contest. Mackie fumbled the ball as Fyfe was coming in and bent forward to collect the ball and the Fremantle player made high contact, with a free kick paid for the infringement.
“It was the view of the panel that Fyfe had no realistic alternative way to contest the ball and the high contact was caused by circumstances outside the player’s control. No further action was taken.”
Ironically, Fyfe found himself under the scrutiny of the MRP before his team last played Hawthorn, only on that occasion he was suspended for two matches.
Fyfe thus didn’t play when the Hawks thumped Fremantle by 58 points in Round 3.
The Freo match-winner has been outstanding this year and come into Brownlow Medal calculations despite being ineligible such has been his level of performance this year.
He almost single-handedly dragged his team over the line when they beat Carlton in a thriller two weeks ago.
Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead wasn't so lucky, suspended for one week for a trip.