AFL acquits Stevens, Wilson - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

AFL acquits Stevens, Wilson

By Chris Lines 04/03/2003 07:46:17 PM Comments (0)

Kangaroos captain Anthony Stevens is free to play Adelaide in the Wizard Cup semi-final this weekend and West Coast full-forward Troy Wilson will be available for round one after both were found not guilty of charging at the AFL tribunal.

Stevens was reported for charging Melbourne's Cameron Bruce in their quarter-final last weekend.

Bruce had jumped to take an overhead mark when Stevens also leapt to deliver a shirtfront hip and shoulder bump that knocked the Demon to the ground.

Experienced umpire Brett Allen decided the contact was only bordering on charging, but changed his mind after seeing video evidence.

"It wasn't the hardest hit I have seen but he did run from eight to ten metres," Allen said at Tuesday night's hearing.

Stevens said he originally ran in with the intention of contesting the mark, but changed his mind at the last moment.

"I realised I couldn't mark and I've gone to protect myself.... there wasn't a lot of force in hitting him," Stevens said.

The Kangaroos were aiming to win the pre-season cup for the first time since 1995 but the semi-final had been robbed of much of its spice by Adelaide's decision to rest Wayne Carey, who left the 'Roos in ignominy last year after an affair with Stevens' wife.

Wilson was reported on video evidence for cannoning into the back of Adelaide recruit Jason Torney, who had jumped to take a chest mark.

Reporting umpire Stuart Wenn said the contact was unnecessary and unreasonable, allegations that Torney himself rejected.

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