Overview

• Tribunal dismissed the rough conduct charge, clearing Chol to play in round one of 2026.
• Geelong’s Tom Stewart was concussed, failed a HIA, and will miss the grand final against Brisbane under protocol.
• Match review officer Michael Christian had graded the incident as high contact, severe impact and careless, proposing a three-game ban.
• Chair Jeff Gleeson KC said Sam Butler’s earlier tackle caused Stewart to lose his feet and that a tangle of legs and the speed of play meant Chol’s conduct could not be clearly deemed unreasonable.
• The hearing ran about 100 minutes with roughly 50 minutes of deliberation, as AFL counsel alleged a duty-of-care breach and Chol’s counsel argued it was a football accident; Chol did not testify.