The AFL’s crackdown on sliding has been further clouded after the tribunal last night cleared Fremantle midfielder Greg Broughton of engaging in rough conduct.

And the league would almost certainly have faced an appeal if Broughton had been found guilty after they failed to provide clubs with video examples of dangerous incidents as promised in a memo on April 27.

The hearing was delayed by almost half an hour as Fremantle argued that the memo, which warned players about the risk of sliding in feet or knees first, shouldn’t be permitted in evidence.

Match Review Panel chairman Mark Fraser referred to that memo when discussing the reasons behind Broughton’s report in an interview on the AFL website. AFL lawyer Andrew Tinney also said it was part of a “body of knowledge” that players had which reinforced the league’s stance.

Broughton risked a one match suspension by pleading not guilty. He