THE MAGPIE WHO MADE IT THROUGH SHEER PERSISTENCE

GLENORCHY has had a rare win at the State League tribunal with Zac Webster cleared to take his place in Saturday’s preliminary final at Blundstone Arena.

The Pies rolled the dice and challenged Webster’s twomatch suspension for striking North Launceston’s Rhyan Mansell — where had the verdict been upheld he would have been unavailable for the grand final should the side beat Lauderdale this weekend.

Webster, who only returned to the senior team for the first time in a month in the second semi-final after overcoming injury, pleaded guilty to the charge but contested the contact, arguing that the act should be downgraded to a careless one rather than intentional. In his evidence, the officiating umpire said high contact had been made to Mansell’s jaw, with a free kick paid as the Bomber left the field of play under the blood rule before returning a short time later.

Mansell told the tribunal he thought the contact made was unintentional and that it was part of the act of Webster pushing him away, with contact being made with an open palm. Mansell also stated he had cut his lip in another incident earlier in the match, with the contact from Webster reopening the wound.

The former Hawthornlisted player argued he had no intention of striking Mansell and that the contact made was with an open palm through the act of trying to push his opponent away. After considering all the evidence presented, the Independent Tribunal accepted that the act was indeed careless with low impact, downgrading the penalty to a reprimand.

The decision will give the Pies a huge boost. They enter the clash against the southern Bombers on the back of being handed a 58-point hiding and managing just five goals against the reigning premiers.