COLLINGWOOD forward Mason Cox and Brisbane midfielder Mitch Robinson have each been hit with one-match bans for striking.
Cox collected Hawthorn's Daniel Howe high with his elbow during the third quarter of Saturday night's game at the MCG. Match Review Officer Michael Christian judged Cox's action to be intentional conduct with low impact to the head, triggering a one-game suspension.
Robinson was charged with striking St Kilda's Seb Ross during the fourth quarter at Etihad Stadium. The Lions' action was also assessed as intentional conduct with low impact to the head.
Christian told reporters on Monday he had deemed Cox's and Robinson's strikes to be intentional because both had raised their arms away from their bodies.
Christian also said that in grading Cox's action he had been mindful of its potentially serious nature.
"Ordinarily the impact (to Howe) would have been below the force required to constitute a reportable offence, but we took into account in this particular case that the action had the potential to cause a more serious injury," Christian said.
Earlier, the Match Review Officer told The Verdict the League remained focused on cracking down on staging in 2018.
Just one week into the home and away season, Christian has already issued his first staging charge, offering Collingwood's Brayden Maynard a $1000 sanction for an early plea following an incident during the fourth quarter of the Magpies' loss to the Hawks.
"It was our view in this particular case that Brayden excessively exaggerated contact after being pushed by Tom Mitchell and the guidelines are very clear around staging; it can include excessive exaggeration that may affect an umpire's decision-making," Christian said.
"It's something that's certainly in our minds to look at very, very closely each and every week."
Collingwood's Brayden Maynard was charged with staging during the fourth quarter of the Magpies' loss to the Hawks, and has been offered a $1000 sanction for an early plea.
Adelaide's Richard Douglas has elected to challenge his one-game ban for a bump that left Essendon's Zach Merrett concussed on Friday night.
The Tribunal will sit on 5pm to hear the Douglas case.
Meanwhile, three Brisbane players have been charged with engaging in rough conduct following the Lions' AFLW Grand Final loss to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.
Lions Tahlia Randall, Brianna Koenen and Jess Wuetschner have all been offered reprimands for entering early pleas.
