CARLTON defender Lewis Young is free to play after the Blues successfully overturned his ban for bumping North Melbourne's "raging bull" Cameron Zurhaar.

The former Western Bulldogs player's charge of forceful front-on contact was thrown out by the Tribunal on Tuesday night, meaning he can line up against Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

The Match Review Officer graded the incident as careless conduct and high impact to the body.

But the Tribunal panel found the charge could not be sustained after Young gave evidence during a 90-minute hearing.

"I had to make a split-second decision to bump and try to get as low as I possibly can and protect Zurhaar's head," Young told the Tribunal.

00:33

Zurhaar felled by Blue's front-on bump

Lewis Young collects Cam Zurhaar with a crunching front-on bump

Published on Apr 30, 2022

"Zurhaar is a bit like a raging bull and attempted to go through me."

Carlton's lawyer Peter O'Farrell argued Young "wasn't careless, he was careful".

GPS data showed Young had slowed right down at the point when he collided with Zurhaar.

"Zurhaar's a very courageous player and known for his forceful style and he chose to barge through Young," O'Farrell said.

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"He couldn't tackle because Zurhaar didn't have the ball so he had no other options but to brace for the raging bull."

The AFL's legal counsel Andrew Woods argued Young could have avoided a collision with Zurhaar altogether.

"What I submit is Young slows his body in a manner that makes forceful contact and one of the things he could have done to avoid contact is he could have veered to his left and accelerated out of the contest," Woods said.

Carlton decided to accept a one-game ban for Liam Stocker after he was charged with engaging in rough conduct against North's Tarryn Thomas.

The Kangaroos opted not to appeal a one-match suspension for full-forward Nick Larkey, who was charged with tunnelling Young during the third quarter.

00:43

Is Larkey in trouble for this late action on Blue?

Nick Larkey is met with a fiery reaction after appearing to tunnel Lewis Young

Published on Apr 30, 2022