Vince takes pain to make gains

CROWS midfielder Bernie Vince has taken a one-game ban outside the AFL tribunal to avert the risk of a longer suspension if Adelaide plays finals.

Bernie Vince

CROWS midfielder Bernie Vince has taken a one-game ban outside the AFL tribunal to avert the risk of a longer suspension if Adelaide plays finals.

Adelaide's eagerness to challenge Vince's report for striking Fremantle forward Zac Clarke cooled significantly yesterday morning on legal advice about the tribunal's process.

It completely fell off Adelaide's agenda when Crows acting football operations chief David Noble considered the demerit points to be carried on Vince's record if the AFL tribunal upheld the match review panel's findings.

"The thought Bernie would not have had his penalty increased beyond one game at the tribunal is only part of the argument," said Noble.

"By accepting the match review panel's verdict, Bernie now has 25 carry over points. If we had lost at the tribunal it would be 60 - and that could make the difference between no suspension and one game or even a one-match ban becoming two in the finals.

"We weren't convinced we could argue strongly enough to clear Bernie at the tribunal.

"We're not sure we could have argued strongly enough that Bernie was protecting or defending himself as Clarke came at him. The case against him was too strong. So Bernie decided against a visit to the tribunal."

Vince will miss Adelaide's home clash with St Kilda in Friday Night Football on June 15 when the Crows return from the mid-season break.