LANCE Franklin has been cleared to play in the Sydney Swans' clash with ladder-leader Port Adelaide this Saturday after the Match Review Panel gave his bump on Gold Coast's Clay Cameron the all-clear.

Click here to see the MRP's full statement

 

But Hayden Ballantyne has become the third player this season to have a charge referred directly to the Tribunal, with the Fremantle small forward charged with rough conduct for his bump on Adelaide's Matthew Jaensch in the fourth quarter of Sunday's clash at Patersons Stadium.

It is understood the MRP took this course of action because Ballantyne's poor Tribunal record meant he would have received too severe a penalty under the standard points system.

Ballantyne did not leave the ground when he made contact with Jaensch and the ball was within a metre of the player, but his bump appeared to result in an accidental head clash.

The MRP referred charges involving Adelaide's Richard Douglas and Melbourne midfielder Jack Viney directly to the Tribunal earlier this year.

Douglas was suspended by the Tribunal for two weeks for his bump on Greater Western Sydney captain Callan Ward in round five.

Viney was also suspended by the Tribunal for two weeks for his bump on Adelaide forward Tom Lynch in round seven, but ultimately cleared by the AFL Appeals Board.

The Swans will be breathing a sigh of relief that Franklin has been cleared given fellow key forward Kurt Tippett is in doubt to take on Port because of a left knee injury.

The MRP found that Franklin caught Cameron high with his bump in the second quarter of last Sunday's match, but the force was insufficient to constitute a reportable offence. 

Cameron received a free kick for high contact.

The MRP laid 10 charges out of round 12's games, with Richmond's Tyrone Vickery and Matt Thomas both booked for striking.

Vickery has accepted a two-match ban for striking North Melbourne defender Michael Firrito while Thomas  gets a one-match ban for rough conduct on veteran Brent Harvey.

North defender Scott Thompson has accepted a reprimand and 63.75 demerit points for striking Tiger spearhead Jack Riewoldt.

Essendon's David Myers has also accepted a reprimand for striking Greater Western Sydney captain Callan Ward, as has Saint Tom Simpkin for striking Port Adelaide's Aaron Young.

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Twitter: @AFL_Nick.