HORSHAM co-coach Nick Pekin will be free to play in the Wimmera Football League grand final should the Demons progress that far in 2015.
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Pekin was spared a lengthy suspension by an independent tribunal at a hearing that lasted two hours on Wednesday night.
He received a three-week sanction with one week suspended until the end of 2016.
Pekin was reported for forceful front on contact during the Demons’ 16-point win against Ararat at the weekend for a bump in the opening two minutes that left Rat Harry Ganley unconscious.
The bump occurred after Ganley had disposed of the ball on Horsham City Oval’s interchange wing.
Ganley took no further part in the match and has been ruled out of Ararat’s elimination final against Stawell on Sunday.
Pekin was red-carded and coached from the sidelines.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge with his defence arguing the contact was unavoidable.
The defence believed Pekin had less than a second to make a decision after Ganley had disposed of the ball.
It was argued the contact was not high and that Ganley had contributed to the contact by overbalancing and falling sideways in front of Pekin.
Pekin’s defence argued the concussion had been caused by Ganley’s head hitting the turf, not the original contact.
The panel was not satisfied with the defence, finding Pekin guilty.
It took just five minutes to decide on the appropriate penalty.
Pekin avoided a straight three-week sentence because of his good record.
The Demons take on Minyip-Murtoa on Saturday in a qualifying final that offers the winner a chance to face off against competition front-runner Horsham Saints.
