Bell Post Hill veteran Nick Costello is free to play in Saturday’s GDFNL preliminary final against East Geelong after accepting a reprimand for an incident in the first semi-final win over the Belmont Lions.
Not seen by the officiating umpires, it is understood the Lions asked AFL Barwon’s Match Review Panel to look into an incident involving Ben McPherson.
It is understood the Lions claimed Costello, who kicked his 500th GDFNL goal in the third quarter of the Panthers’ win, elbowed McPherson to the head.
The MRP graded the offence as careless conduct, high contact, and low impact, drawing a one-match suspension.
However, an early guilty plea from Costello, who needs five goals for 400 at senior level with Bell Post Hill, downgrades the sanction to a reprimand.
Costello’s Panthers teammate Felix Jones and star East defender Jack Dickson have also accepted reprimands for weekend incidents.
Jones was cited for kicking the Lions’ Shaun McNamara, which was graded as intentional conduct, contact to the body, and low impact.
Dickson’s strike on North Geelong’s Osca Riccardi in Saturday’s second semi-final loss was assessed as low-level.
X: @krockfootball
