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Hale cleared for Hawks opener

By Laura Gardiner
18 March 2013 01:42PM EST

HAWTHORN had an important win at the Match Review Panel with top ruckman David Hale's match-day report thrown out.

From the three incidents assessed from the weekend's NAB Cup final and practice match round, no charges were laid.

Hale was booked against North Melbourne in Craigieburn on Saturday for forceful head-on contact on Leigh Adams, but was cleared on Monday.

Hale is now in the clear to play in the Hawks' first-up blockbuster clash with recent fierce rivals Geelong on Easter Monday.

The AFL's MRP declared Hale had no alternative way to contest the ball when he made the heavy contact on Adams.

Adams' young teammate Taylor Hine was also cleared of a match-day report and will be well in contention to make his debut for North in the opening rounds of the home-and-away season. 

Hine was reported for front-on contact on Hawks big man Jack Gunston, but the MRP said the contact was in fact to the shoulder and not head-high.

The only report from the NAB Cup grand final, on Brisbane youngster Mitch Golby for his contact on Carlton star Marc Murphy, was also dismissed on Monday.

The MRP declared Golby's action on Murphy, during the Lions' big night premiership win, was not forceful enough to constitute a report.

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