See how the #FreeBallaz campaign unfolded on Twitter
The AFL Match Review Panel had yesterday charged the small forward for engaging in rough conduct against Adelaide’s Matthew Jaensch in Sunday’s game at Patersons Stadium.
The matter was referred directly to the Tribunal, which heard the case on Tuesday afternoon.
After hearing from both legal counsels, the jury deliberated for roughly 15-20 minutes. They came back with a not guilty verdict.
Earlier, AFL legal counsel Jeff Gleeson QC argued that Ballantyne had an alternative, and that was to go straight at the ball.
Ballantyne replied with: "I was trying to get to the ball. He (Jaensch) was between me and the ball."
In his closing summary, Gleeson suggested the case came 'clearly under rough conduct' and submitted the grading per the MRP table should be negligent conduct, high contact and high impact.
Fremantle counsel Nick Tweedie SC responded in his closing summary by suggesting that contesting the ball had to extend beyond picking up the ball.
