Star Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe will be free to play his 100th game on Saturday after he was ordered to pay a $1000 fine by the Match Review Panel.
Fyfe was fined $1500, which was reduced due to an early guilty plea, for tripping Western Bulldogs midfielder Koby Stevens during the third quarter of Sunday’s 13-point win at Etihad Stadium.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Western Bulldogs, the MRP judged the incident to be intentional contact, with low impact to the body.
The decision will pave the way for Fyfe to play his 100th game against North Melbourne at Domain Stadium on Saturday night.
Nat Fyfe told 7 News Perth on Monday night that he was happy with the MRP decision.
“I’m really happy with the findings of the MRP and I’m really happy I can move forward and look forward to a big game against North Melbourne on Saturday night,” he said.
“It’s never nice to be reported but again I’m really happy with the findings."
Fyfe said there was no malice in the incident with Stevens.
“It was a bit wet on the outside and we’re trained so intensely to corral our opponents and not let tem step around us,” he said.
“(It was) a reflex action on the back of a slip, there was no malice intent.”
Fyfe praised the MRP for its efficient process.
“The new changes to the MRP are really pragmatic, they’re designed specifically for cases like this,” he said.
Fyfe remains eligible to win the Brownlow Medal.