ESSENDON defender Mark Baguley has successfully downgraded his striking charge at the Tribunal on Tuesday night, accusing St Kilda forward Jack Lonie of staging as part of his evidence.

Baguley, who could have accepted a one-match ban, pleaded guilty to striking but had the contact downgraded from high to body contact, reducing the penalty to a $1500 fine under the new Tribunal guidelines.

He accused Lonie of "faking it" when he went to ground in St Kilda's 110-point win over the Bombers on Sunday.

Lonie told an AFL investigation on Monday he had been struck to the neck and stood by his version of events on Tuesday night under heavy questioning from former AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson, who represented the Bombers.

Baguley argued his hand had not slipped above Lonie's collarbone in the second quarter of Sunday's match.

After a marathon 90-minute hearing, the jury of Wayne Henwood, Shane Wakelin and Daniel Harford took 32 minutes to accept the lower penalty, allowing Baguley to face Melbourne on Saturday.

The AFL conducted an investigation of the strike on Monday after inconclusive vision showed Lonie being struck and going to ground, prompting a strong reaction from St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt.

The vision didn't make clear whether the contact was to Lonie's chest or neck.

Lonie told the League investigator the contact was to his chest with a "six out of 10" force, then slipping to his neck at a "five out of 10" force.

Baguley denied making contact to Lonie's neck and graded the force to his chest three out of 10.

"It's a great result, I stood by my evidence and gave a statement and I think common sense prevailed," Baguley said as he left AFL House on Tuesday night.

"I was surprised that I got the initial sanction of two weeks down to one with an early plea.

"So I was glad the club wanted to challenge and we got the right outcome.

"I don't believe I made contact to his neck or head, so I stood by my evidence."

Baguley has now been found guilty of two low-level offences this season and will be suspended for one match rather than fined if he is charged again.