Lavington coach Simon Curtis will play in Sunday's grand final against Wangaratta.
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Curtis was found not guilty of striking on Thursday night by an AFL Victoria Country Appeals Board hearing.
One of the league's best players, who tied for fifth in Monday night's Morris Medal count, was found guilty by the Ovens and Murray Football League tribunal last week of striking Wangaratta's Michael Bordignon in the grand final qualifier on September 7.
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He received a two-match ban, with one suspended, but was granted a stay of sanction to take his place in last Sunday's preliminary final win over Myrtleford, where he featured in the best.
"I just used the evidence we used the other night (at the O and M) and obviously the tape where, quite clearly, it showed he (Curtis) was having his legs held by two players and he turned around and pushed him (Bordignon)," Panthers' advocate Iain Findlay said.
Wangaratta initiated the citing last week with the match review panel submitting the charge.
"They (the appeals' board) just said we can't see a strike," Findlay added.
The hearing started at 6pm in Melbourne and took 90 minutes, meaning the Lavington party would arrive home after 11pm.
It's expected Lavington will release a statement on Friday.
The Panthers will start underdogs against Wangaratta at its Norm Minns Oval.
The home team has won 11 straight games, the greatest streak of any side this season.
The presence of Curtis is a massive boost as the Panthers look to beat the only team it hasn't toppled this year.
The club's three losses have all been to the Pies by an average of 28 points.
Wangaratta won the grand final qualifier on September 7 by 34 points.
The grand final starts at 2.30pm with the ground in immaculate condition.
