However, Rieniets is free to play in round one next season after the AFL Goldfields Independent Tribunal wholly suspended his three-match ban for 2016.

The tribunal found the Wickers stalwart guilty in an incident with Gordon player Jordan Clampit during the round 16 senior encounter between the two sides on August 8.

Clampit missed the Eagles’ following match against Waubra as a result of injuries to his mouth, which stemmed from that incident.

Creswick president Mick Alsop told The Courier that the club was unhappy with the outcome, but would not be appealing the tribunal’s decision, largely because of the cost associated with doing so.

“(We are) disappointed that a player that had played 291 games has been reported for something that we don’t believe that he caused,” Alsop said.

Alsop said Rieniets was also “pretty disappointed” after being reported for the first time in a career spanning over 20 years.

“He’s won four best and fairests, won The Courier award and is well respected from players and umpires and now I guess he has got this record,” Alsop said.

Meanwhile, Daylesford reserves player David Thompson has been slapped with a four-match ban for unbecoming conduct after an incident with Dunnstown’s Brett Rogers in round 17.

Like Rieniets, Thompson was the subject of a league investigation, which found he had a case to answer at tribunal.

In the Ballarat Football League, Redan's Dean Chester will be sidelined for the start of the 2016 season after accepting a one-week set penalty offered by the match review panel.

The veteran Lion was reported late in the second quarter for a high hit on North Ballarat City's Simon McCartin in the preliminary final on Saturday.

He was yellow carded and spent 15 minutes on the bench during City’s 15-point win at Eastern Oval.

McCartin recovered and will this week captain his side in the BFL grand final against Darley, where City will be shooting for a third-straight premiership.