An unblemished record and a guilty plea helped Eaglehawk forward/ruckman Cam McGlashan avoid suspension at the BFNL tribunal on Tuesday night.
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McGlashan was given a reprimand for striking Gisborne's Ryan Baker and is free to play in Saturday night's second semi-final against Strathfieldsaye.
McGlashan, who hadn't previously been repored in 242 junior and senior matches for the Borough, was reported by goal umpire Brian Davey for striking Baker in the stomach in the first quarter of the qualifying final.
In his evidence Davey said McGlashan and Baker were battling for position near the top of the goalsquare when the Borough star "made a punching motion" with his right fist into Baker's stomach.
Davey, who described the power of McGlashan's contact as "six or seven out of 10", said Baker had doubled over as a result of the blow, but did not go to ground.
Baker, who gave his evidence by phone, said he thought McGlashan's action was "intentional".
The Gisborne defender said the blow hit him in the stomach just below his ribs and that he was "winded for about 30 seconds".
Baker also said the force of the blow was in the "six or seven out of 10" range.
McGlashan admitted he made contact with Baker in a bid to get separation, but he said he hadn't used a clenched fist.
"My intention was to break clear of Ryan to get a clear run at the ball,'' McGlashan said.
"My intention was to chop his arm away...I thought I made contact with the side of my hand and that it was more of a push off motion."
Umpires advocate Peter Hilson told the tribunal that a two-week suspension was "too high for an incident of this nature" and that one match should be the maximum penalty.
Tribunal chairman Gary Walker lauded Davey for his evidence before warning McGlashan as he handed down the panel's decision of a reprimand.
"Be very careful how you swing your arms and hands around,'' Walker said.
"We could have given you a week or two, but we took your honesty and good record into account."
McGlashan's availability doesn't solve a selection headache for the Hawks, with Shaun Knott fit to return to the Eaglehawk side.
The premiership forward hasn't played since August 3 because of injury.
McGlashan and fellow talls Clayton Holmes and Richard Tibbett have been in terrific form and would be unlucky to miss selection this week.
Midfielder Dillon Williams is also in contention to force his way back into the senior team.
"They (Knott and Williams) were pretty close to getting up for the qualifying final, so I imagine they'll be right for next week,'' Eaglehawk coach Travis Matheson said after the qualifying final win over Gisborne.
"There'll be some tough calls to be made at the selection table this week."
Oscar Madden (ankle) and Sam Harper (arm) were injured against Gisborne, but are expected to be fit to play the Storm.
Meanwhile, Golden Square faces an axious wait ahead of Wednesday night's tribunal hearings.
The Bulldogs have Adam Baird and Braydon Welsh facing charges from Sunday's elimination final win over Sandhurst.
Baird and Welsh weren't reported on game day. The officiating umpires reported the duo on Monday morning after reviewing video evidence.
Baird will defend an unneccessary rough play charge, while Welsh will front on a striking charge.
The Bulldogs don't have the depth that Strathfieldsaye and Eaglehawk do and can't afford to lose two senior players for Sunday's first semi-final clash with Gisborne.
Sandhurst playmaker Andrew Collins will also front the BFNL tribunal on Wednesday night after being reported for unneccessary rough play in the elimination final.
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