Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has been cleared to play this weekend after the AFL appeals board overturned the tribunal’s decision of a two-match ban on the WA star for rough conduct, crucially boosting the Blues’ finals hopes.

In a marathon hearing that lasted almost five hours, the AFL appeals board found there was enough evidence to overturn the tribunal’s decision, freeing Cripps to play against in the final two rounds of the regular season.

6PR Breakfast and 9 News Perth sports presenter Paddy Sweeney told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast the result has divided experts and given Carlton’s finals hopes a huge boost.

“It’s massive for them because they’ve got Melbourne and Collingwood and they need to win one to play finals,” he said.

LISTEN 👇 to why Cripps was controversially cleared