AFL clears Ray over Selwood bump
St Kilda's Farren Ray is in the clear over the ugly collision which knocked out Geelong AFL star Joel Selwood.
Selwood, who was stretchered off, taken to hospital and needed 14 stitches in his mouth, is in doubt for Saturday night's match with Fremantle.
Ray was reported on Friday night, after his hip connected with Selwood's head as the two players contested a ground ball early in the MCG clash won by Geelong.
The sickening collision left Selwood lying unconscious with blood oozing from his mouth.
But Selwood backed Ray, tweeting that it was "fair play" and AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson also backed the panel's finding that Ray did nothing wrong.
"It was one of those unfortunate accidents that we see," Anderson said.
"The bump rule is quite clear that if you're going for the ball and your sole intent's the ball and you have no realistic alternative open to you then you won't get penalised."
He also dismissed concerns that AFL rules to protect the head were encouraging ball-winners such as Selwood to charge head-first into contests to earn free kicks.
The Cats could also lose fullback Matthew Scarlett, who faces a one-match ban after being charged with striking Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt.
Richmond's Alex Rance, who can accept a three-match rough conduct ban over the collision which concussed Carlton's Jarrad Waite, is the only other player facing suspension.
Waite was cleared over making contact with his foot to the groin of Richmond's Luke McGuane, while a retaliatory blow from McGuane will also go unsanctioned, with both deemed not forceful enough to constitute an offence.
Melbourne star Aaron Davey has escaped punishment for his high bump on Sydney's Ben McGlynn, as the match review panel were unsure whether he made head contact.
Scarlett was charged over an off-the-ball clash with Riewoldt.
The force was deemed at the lowest end of the scale needed to be a strike, and Scarlett could have escaped with a reprimand, if not for a penalty loading for a previous offence.
Port Adelaide's Matt Thomas was fined over an offensive gesture and Geelong's Jimmy Bartel for making umpire contact.
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