Wanderers’ bid to make their first NTFL grand final since 2017 was dealt a blow last night when their captain Braedon McLean had his appeal hearing dismissed

Wanderers will have to beat St Mary’s in Saturday’s Premier League grand final without inspirational skipper Braedon McLean after his appeal to have a three-match ban for rough conduct thrown out was dismissed by the appeals tribunal

Wanderers captain Braedon McLean will not play again this season after his attempt to have a three-match ban for rough conduct quashed was dismissed by the NTFL’s appeals tribunal. Picture: Felicity Elliott AFLNT/Media

WANDERERS skipper Braedon McLean will miss the rest of the 20-21 finals series after his bid to over turn a three-game ban for rough conduct was dismissed by the appeals tribunal.

The marathon two and a half-hour appeal involved a lot of discussion on what constituted an intentional bump, including areas like careless, obvious and inevitable.

The three-man independent panel concluded the submissions by Wanderers advocate Amy Williams were not compelling and did not reveal any exceptional circumstances for a reduction in the original penalty.

Wanderers had argued the three-match sanction imposed was manifestly excessive in the context of the bump and McLean’s intent.

McLean had been found guilty at a tribunal hearing last week intentional conduct, medium impact and high contact when he bumped St Mary’s opponent Shaun Edwards in a third quarter clash in the February 27 qualifying final.