Brisbane Lions forward Logan Morris has avoided suspension for pushing Collingwood captain Darcy Moore into a marking contest.
Given the AFL's recent focus on players shoving their opponents into the paths of contests, some pundits felt Morris could be cited for an incident late in the Lions' 52-point loss at the Gabba on Thursday night.
Morris and Moore were jostling and going back with the flight of the ball, which ultimately was going over both of their heads, when the Lions big man pushed the Collingwood defender.
Moore clashed into the knee of oncoming teammate Jeremy Howe, who was in a marking contest with Brisbane's Cam Rayner.
Fortunately for Moore, he was cleared of concussion and is expected to play against Essendon in the traditional Anzac Day blockbuster.
"I split a bit of my ear cartilage open," Moore told the Seven Network post-match.
"I had to go downstairs to get it stitched up because it was kind of an awkward spot.
"It took a while to stitch me up, so they subbed me out."
On Friday, the AFL confirmed in its match review that premiership tall Morris had no case to answer as he "could not have reasonably foreseen" Moore colliding with Howe.
"Morris and Moore run back with the flight of the ball with their eyes on the ball as Jeremy Howe and Cam Rayner approach from the opposite direction," the AFL said in a statement.
"With his eyes on the ball, Morris makes contact with Moore, with Howe making high contact to Moore in the marking contest.
"It was the view of the MRO that the contact from Morris on Moore was not of a forceful nature and that Morris, under the circumstances, could not have reasonably foreseen that Howe would make high contact with another player in the manner that occurred.
"Accordingly, it was the view of the MRO that Morris's conduct was not unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken."
The decision may raise eyebrows at Richmond, whose forward Rhyan Mansell is currently serving a three-match ban for shoving St Kilda defender Liam O'Connell into Tigers spearhead Tom Lynch.
O'Connell was knocked out, with the incident graded severe impact, careless conduct and high impact and Mansell unable to overturn the subsequent three-match ban at the tribunal.
Elsewhere, Howe separately received a $1000 fine for attempting to trip Will Ashcroft while Nick Daicos can accept a $1000 sanction for misconduct against Lion Jarrod Berry.
