Hawthorn's Mabior Chol is free to play in round one, 2026 after the AFL tribunal overturned his three-match ban for rough conduct against Geelong's Tom Stewart.

The incident happened late in the first quarter of Geelong's prelim final win over Hawthorn at the MCG.

Stewart took hold of the ball in defensive 50 and tried to run clear, but he was grabbed around the legs by Hawthorn's Sam Butler, and then tackled from behind by Chol, who pinned Stewart's arms as both men fell forward to the ground. Loading Twitter content

Stewart hit his head on the ground and subsequently failed a HIA test.

This ruled him out for the rest of the match, and ensured that he would not be out of concussion protocols in time to to play in the grand final.

Chol was handed a three-match ban by the match rev

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