Melbourne high-flyer Jeremy Howe will be available for Saturday's clash with North Melbourne after receiving a reprimand from the AFL tribunal for wiping blood on an opponent's shorts.
The Demons forward was charged with misconduct for wiping blood from his knee onto the shorts of Port Adelaide opponent Tom Jonas during last Saturday's loss in Darwin.
It is only the second time such an incident has occurred and due to its unusual nature is not covered by the Match Review Panel's protocols for charging players with offences, leading to the incident being referred directly to the tribunal on Tuesday night.
From the outset of the hearing, Howe pleaded guilty to the incident, telling the official AFL website that he was embarrassed by the charge after wiping his knee against Jonas' shorts in frustration.
Howe said he had contacted Melbourne's team doctor to learn about the possible repercussions of such an incident and said he would not take the same action if he had his time again.
AFL Counsel Jeff Gleeson recommended a one-match suspension for Howe in accordance to a precedent set in 2002 when then Collingwood skipper Nathan Buckley received a one-game ban for wiping blood on the shirt of his Geelong opponent Cameron Ling.
But after a three-minute deliberation, the AFL tribunal decided to reprimand Howe and give him 93.75 points for his carryover record.
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