Hayden Armstrong will take his place in the Ainslie forward line for the AFL Canberra grand final after his two-game ban was thrown out the window on Friday night.
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The Tricolours were left sweating on Armstrong's availability for the decider after the club's appeal of a two-game suspension was referred back to a tribunal.
A tribunal found Armstrong guilty and slapped him with a two-game ban on Tuesday, but an appeals board recommended AFL Canberra reconsider the decision at another hearing two days later.
Armstrong was still found guilty for striking during a pre-match melee in the preliminary final but the charge was downgraded to a reprimand based on umpire's evidence at a third hearing on Friday.
It meant he made three trips to the tribunal in less than a week but it's all been worth it with Armstrong set to play against the Belconnen Magpies at Manuka Oval on Sunday.
"Stoked, very happy with the outcome. It's been a long week that's for sure," Armstrong said.
"Three times in a week, I don't think many people have done that before. It's a great relief to come away with it and be free to play.
"It was a great relief. They club did everything they could in their powers to fight the charge and we came away with the victory. We can now concentrate on the game which we're really looking forward to."
Armstrong went to shake hands with his opposite man before the bounce in the preliminary final against the Eastlake Demons.
But he copped a jab to the stomach in return, and was reported after becoming locked in a tussle with two rival players.
However the suspension was thrown out the door and allows Armstrong to take care of unfinished business in the decider.
A suspension would have seen Armstrong's premiership dreams go up in smoke for the second year in a row after he missed last year's victory with a broken hand.
"It's been a bit of an up and down week," Armstrong said.
"I'd have been pretty disappointed if I missed it again after last year. That's all past me, I'm trying to get in a new mindset and just relax. Keen to get out there and have a great contest with Belconnen.
"I can't thank the club enough... they were really great, kept fighting it the whole way. They just kept on fighting and we came away with the result."
Ainslie coach Chris Rourke was adamant the club would do everything they can to help the key forward off in a bid to bolster their premiership hopes.
He was one of Ainslie's best against Eastlake with a three-goal haul to help the Tricolours to a second straight grand final appearance.
Now he's gearing up for a long-awaited grand final tilt with Ainslie eyeing back-to-back premierships.
"Belconnen will probably go in favourites but I reckon we can get over the line. It's going to be a hard contest all day, there'll be nothing in it," Armstrong said.
AFL CANBERRA GRAND FINALS
Sunday: Rising Stars - Ainslie Tricolours v Marist College at 9:30am, Second Grade - Ainslie Tricolours v Queanbeyan Tigers at 12pm, First Grade - Belconnen Magpies v Ainslie Tricolours at 3pm. All matches at Manuka Oval.
