McVeigh accepts one-week ban

ESSENDON will be without Mark McVeigh for Friday night’s crucial clash with Carlton after he accepted the AFL’s match review panel offer of a one-week suspension for striking.

The MRP assessed McVeigh’s third-quarter strike on Demon Jared Rivers as a level three offence; the incident deemed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points) for a total of 225 activation points.

McVeigh would have risked a two-game ban if he chose to contest the ruling.

He had a total of one match suspended within the last three years, which further increased the penalty by 10 per cent to 247.50 points which equated to a two-match ban.

However, his early guilty plea cut the points by 25 per cent and the suspension to just one match.

An existing five-year good record saved Geelong’s Cameron Ling from suspension after he was booked for striking Fremantle’s Nic Suban.

Ling was offered a reprimand and 70.31 demerit points towards his future record for his third-term tummy punch.

The incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point), drawing 125 demerit points. He risks a one-game suspension if the Cats take Ling’s case to the Tribunal.

The Cats host Port Adelaide at Skilled Stadium this weekend.

Fremantle defender Antoni Grover was also offered a reprimand for a level two striking offence against Cat Steve Johnson.

He can avoid suspension and cop 93.75 points towards his future record with an early guilt plea or fight his charge and risk missing Freo’s clash with Collingwood on Saturday.

Grover’s teammate, Matthew de Boer, was charged with making negligent contact with an umpire. Given it was his first offence; he can accept a $1950 fine with an early plea.