MELBOURNE forward Chris Dawes has accepted a one-match ban for striking North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow, but all finals-bound teams have escaped the attention of the Match Review Panel.
Dawes was charged with a level two striking offence, which would ordinarily have been reduced to a reprimand with an early guilty plea.
However, the 26-year-old will miss the Demons' round-one match next season because of 68.75 carryover points for a striking charge against Richmond defender Alex Rance in round nine.
Dawes made high contact to Swallow after the midfielder had disposed of the ball in the third quarter of Saturday night's loss and was reported.
The incident was assessed as reckless conduct, low impact and high contact.
Dawes was cleared of a separate incident involving Kangaroo Scott Thompson because there was insufficient force.
After 228 games without suspension, retired Adelaide defender Ben Rutten was charged with striking in his last match.
The 31-year-old accepted a reprimand for striking St Kilda's Adam Schneider well off the ball with his right elbow in Sunday's clash at Adelaide Oval.
Due to his six-year good record, he was able to accept a reprimand and 70.31 carryover points for the incident, which was assessed as reckless conduct, low impact and high contact.
The MRP assessed a match-day report of West Coast forward Josh Kennedy, who made high contact to Gold Coast midfielder David Swallow at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
The panel deemed Kennedy’s actions did not constitute a striking action after he outstretched his arms "in a smother or tackling position when high contact was made".
A combined 20 players from the Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney have been fined for engaging in a melee.
The MRP also looked at incidents involving Collingwood’s Heritier Lumumba and Carlton’s Brock McLean, but both were cleared.
