ESSENDON rookie Gach Nyuon has been handed a two-game suspension by the VFL tribunal after pleading guilty to a headbutting charge at a hearing on Tuesday night.
The ruckman, who was selected at pick No.4 in last year's NAB AFL Rookie Draft, was sent from the field in the final quarter after being red-carded for head butting a Coburg opponent on Sunday.
The incident, which was referred directly to the tribunal, was ruled as intentional, low impact and high contact.
There was no video evidence available of the incident and the 19-year-old was reported by the officiating umpire on Sunday.
Nyuon earned All Australian honours for his performances during last year's under-18 championships.
Carlton defender Dylan Buckley's chances of earning a senior recall have also hit a serious hurdle after he received a two-match suspension from the VFL tribunal.
Buckley was charged with rough conduct and was automatically handed a one-game penalty following Saturday's Williamstown-Northern Blues match-up.
However, under the VFL tribunal's guidelines, a previous charge in the last 12 months adds a further match onto any ban, which led to the two-game suspension for Buckley.
Buckley received a reprimand, also for rough conduct, the week before when playing against the Casey Scorpions.
The 23-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of this season, played four of the first five matches of 2016 in Brendon Bolton's side, but a calf injury following the Blues' round five clash against Fremantle sidelined the youngster for a fortnight.
Buckley has been named in the Northern Blues' best players the past two weeks after returning against the Scorpions on May 8.
The son of club great Jim has played 31 matches for the Blues since making his debut in round three, 2013.