A FORMER Carngham-Linton player, who admitted involvement in a brawl following a Lexton Plains Football League match at Rokewood, escaped with a reprimand from the LPFL tribunal after a key Rokewood-Corindhap

witness failed to appear before the hearing.

Apollo Bay assistant coach and 2003 Peter Smith Medallist Ross Waters was found guilty by the tribunal of misconduct in that he was involved in a brawl, after Waters admitted he exchanged blows with former Rokewood-Corindhap player Jamie Daniels.

But the tribunal concluded the evidence did not indicate Waters instigated the fight with Daniels, who did not attend to present evidence.

"After considerable debate the panel decided the evidence was sufficient sustain the charge of misconduct," the tribunal said.

"Based on the information provided it was decided to issue a severe reprimand in the hope that (Waters) won't be involved in similar incident again. Waters received the benefit of the doubt."

The tribunal heard Waters, who had attended the match as a spectator, had been drinking for up to five hours before the brawl, which occurred 40 minutes after the July 13 match between Rokewood-Corindhap and Carngham-Linton.

Waters admitted to drinking up to eight drinks before the incident but insisted Daniels had provoked him by calling him a "dog"who king-hit people.

During the two-hour hearing Waters' version of the incident was backed by witness Tim Clarke, who said he was a friend of both Waters and Daniels.

Earlier Rokewood general manager Shane Anwyl said Waters had antagonised Rokewood-Corindhap supporters during the match and identified Waters as being involved in the brawl.

A charge of abusive language against Waters was not sustained.

Waters said the tribunal's decision was fair and expressed his regret the incident had occurred.

The tribunal also said Rokewood-Corindhap's involvement in the incident may warrant further investigation.