RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin has dodged suspension, with the Match Review Panel handing him a $1000 fine for striking Lachie Neale.

Cotchin was scrutinised by the MRP after landing a forceful jumper punch on Neale in Sunday's clash against the Dockers, sending the midfielder to ground, but his hit was graded as careless conduct with low impact to the head. 

The MRP considered that Cotchin was not looking directly at Neale when he landed the blow, declining to grade the strike as intentional as a result.  

The Tigers skipper was one of three players charged for striking offences in round eight, with the AFL also acting on two large melees and umpire contact incidents.

All sanctions were accepted by the players, so the Tribunal will not sit on Tuesday.

Hawthorn wingman Isaac Smith also escaped with a $1000 fine for an off-the-ball hit on Brisbane Lions midfielder Nick Robertson that was graded as careless conduct with low impact to the head. 

Smith's strike made contact with Robertson's bicep and slid high, resulting in the careless – rather than intentional – grading.

Lions forward Eric Hipwood was charged for striking Smith in the same clash in Launceston, with the Panel grading his hit as intentional conduct with low impact to the body. 

Sydney superstar Lance Franklin was cleared of striking Sam Durdin, with the MRP deeming the high contact was not the result of a striking motion and was made with an open hand.

"A free kick was paid at the time for the high contact and it was the view of the Panel no further action was required," the Panel said in its findings.

Geelong midfielder Cameron Guthrie has been cleared of any wrongdoing after pushing umpire Justin Schmitt out of his path in Saturday night's clash against Essendon.

The Panel said Schmitt was "directly in the path of the ball" and Guthrie's contact "was not unreasonable in the circumstances", with no further action taken. 

Melbourne defender Bernie Vince has been offered a $1000 fine for making careless contact with umpire Craig Fleer in Saturday night's clash against Adelaide.

The pair clashed heads, with Fleer leaving the ground and failing a subsequent concussion test.

The MRP has written to St Kilda and Carlton regarding the melee that broke out in the third quarter of Saturday's clash at Etihad Stadium, with both clubs able to respond before a penalty is set.

The same approach has been taken with North Melbourne and Sydney, with multiple melees breaking out through the game.

It is understood the clubs will be issued with fines, rather than individual players. Clubs will then be able to pay the full amount themselves or pass the penalty on to the players as seen fit.

The AFL updated its rules for 2017, giving the League the ability to sanction clubs as well as individual players for large melees or multiple breaches in a season.