AFLW tribunal finds Hawks’ Smith not guilty of bump

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Tamara Smith has been cleared of the heavy bump that landed the Hawthorn defender a three-game AFLW suspension.

After a lengthy tribunal hearing on Sunday night, Smith was found not guilty because it was not clear whether high contact was made.

Smith’s hip-and-shoulder shepherd concussed Geelong forward Kate Surman in the second term of their match last Thursday night, which the Hawks won by three goals.

The Hawthorn player was facing the equal-longest ban in AFLW history, with her rough conduct charge classified as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

But after a deliberation that lasted more than an hour and a half, tribunal chair Renee Enbom KC said Smith was free to play.

“We are not satisfied to the requisite standard that Ms Smith’s bump on player Surman involved high contact,” Enbom said in the tribunal findings.

“The vision of the incident is inconclusive on that issue. The vision clearly captures forceful shoulder-on-shoulder contact between the players.

“The vision does not capture Smith’s shoulder making contact with Surman’s head, neck or to the top of her shoulder.

“As we are not satisfied to the requisite standard that Smith’s bump on Surman involved high contact, the charge must be dismissed.”

Enbom noted that Smith gave “unequivocal” evidence that she felt shoulder contact only with Surman.

Surman was thrown backwards by the heavy impact, but Enbom said the tribunal was not satisfied that her head hit the ground as direct result of the bump.

Hawthorn, who are fourth, host Gold Coast on Wednesday night.

Surman will miss Tuesday’s match in Geelong against Fremantle.

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