RICHMOND defender Alex Rance could fall victim to a new clause in the Tribunal guidelines when the Match Review Panel hands down its findings on Monday afternoon.

Rance is the No.1 item for the MRP after striking Melbourne forward Jack Watts in the back of the head with a forearm swing in Sunday night's clash at the MCG.

The All-Australian defender would be offered a one-match ban if the judiciary decided to grade the strike as intentional conduct with low impact to the head.

However, the MRP is likely to consider the potential to cause serious injury at a time when concussion is considered a serious risk to player safety with ongoing health consequences.

Intentional head-high strikes, "such as those with a swinging clenched fist, raised forearm or elbow" were added to the Tribunal guidelines under the "potential to cause serious injury" clause in 2016.

It means the MRP could upgrade the impact of the strike, even though Watts was able to get to his feet relatively quickly and take his set shot.  

If the impact was upgraded to medium, Rance would be offered a two-match ban with an early guilty plea.

In the unlikely event the impact is upgraded to high, Rance's case would be referred directly on to the Tribunal.

Meanwhile, Melbourne's Tom Bugg is likely to receive a fixed financial sanction for pushing Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt as he hobbled from the ground with trainers to address an ankle injury.

Tomas Bugg pushes Jack Riewoldt as he is attended to by trainers. Picture: Michael Willson, AFL Media

Under further changes in 2016, the MRP can only choose to suspend a player for making contact with an injured player "if the circumstances warrant a more serious charge".

North Melbourne midfielder Ben Cunnington will face scrutiny for falling knee first into Gold Coast star Gary Ablett's back.

Cunnington's charge would need to be deemed both intentional and at least medium impact for the midfielder to be offered a one-match ban.

A large number of players are expected to receive $1000 fines out of the melees involving Geelong, Port Adelaide, Richmond and Melbourne.