St Joseph’s star James Gow free to play in Geelong league grand final after accepting reprimand

St Joseph’s is through to a grand final, but will one of its biggest stars be out there? The AFL Barwon match review has made its decision.

James Gow is free to play in the grand final. Picture: Alan Barber

St Joseph’s star James Gow is free to play in the Geelong league grand final after accepting an early plea for his front on contact incident with Colac’s Ben McCarthy.

Gow’s incident was graded as careless conduct, high compact and low impact by the AFL Barwon match review panel, with his one-ban reduced to a reprimand with his early guilty plea.

It is a relief for the Joeys as they prepare to take on either Colac or St Mary’s in the GFNL grand final at GMHBA Stadium next Friday.

Gow has been named in the best players in 11 of his 16 games this year, a sign of his importance to coach Ron Watt.

Joeys smalls Josh Nurnaitis and Jack Mullin also both escaped sanction, Nurnaitis for high contact with Colac’s Kody Spokes and Mullin for a head clash.

The AFL Barwon match review determined both did not constitute a reportable offence, with no vision available of Mullin’s incident.

It comes as Bell Post Hill’s Sam Harmer will miss the first round of next season after accepting a one-match ban with an early guilty plea for a dangerous tackle on East Geelong’s Ben Crombie.

Originally published as St Joseph’s star James Gow free to play in Geelong league grand final after accepting reprimand