WEST Coast veteran Daniel Chick's credibility is shot this morning after his evidence against Fremantle vice-captain Josh Carr was disregarded during last night's tribunal hearing.

A stunned Carr never appeared in danger of being suspended for three matches after his lawyer Grant Donaldson, SC, proved that Chick's claim that he was forced to leave the field early in the first quarter as a result of a punch from the Docker was untrue by playing videotape from the match. The Eagle defender had complained about the incident to field umpire Matthew Nicholls during the first quarter and later gave his version of events to AFL investigator Bill Kneebone.

No video footage supported his claim. Chick said Carr punched him with a "very forceful" blow which left him winded for three or four minutes. He said it occurred in the first five minutes, in the West Coast forward line. He said he was positive he was struck by a clenched fist and told the club doctor he had received a knock but would be OK when he left the ground moments later.

But Chick later said he did not tell doctors anything because he was on match payments. He treated the bruising to his ribs with an ice pack.

West Coast doctor Gerard Taylor told Kneebone that Chick had not reported any incident to him and when Donaldson played the opening minutes of the term and asked the Eagle to point out when the incident happened, Chick admitted it didn't occur before he went to the bench.

"That could be untrue about when I went off. The rest of it is true," Chick said.

"I came off because the coach asked me to come off. It happened when I came back onto the ground."

Carr admitted scuffling with Tyson Stenglein and Beau Waters throughout the game but said he was nowhere near Chick during the first quarter. He was stunned the case even got to the tribunal.

"I couldn't believe it when I first found out I'd been put in," Carr said after the hearing.

"I'm very disappointed (in Chick). It's in the back of my mind now. I'm not going to get into any personal battles. It's his choice. We'll leave that to him."

Chick appeared agitated throughout his testimony. He yawned, refused to answer a question about when he left the field, talked down to Donaldson and regularly referred to him as "mate" and "buddy".

Donaldson later described Chick's testimony as "all over the place" and accused the Eagle of complaining to Nicholls so the umpires would closely watch Carr.

The tribunal has the power to suspend or fine a player for giving unsatisfactory evidence, but did not exercise that power last night.

WEST AUSTRALIAN