MEDICAL reports from Carlton have played a crucial role in the Match Review Panel's decision to suspend Melbourne pair Jordan Lewis and Jesse Hogan.
The Demons were hit hard by the MRP on Monday, with gun recruit Lewis receiving a three-match suspension for striking Carlton midfielder Patrick Cripps.
'It can't happen again': Banned Demon pair say sorry
Key forward Hogan has accepted a two-game suspension for striking Carlton opponent Sam Rowe, crippling the Demons ahead of Saturday's clash against Geelong.
In a brutal set of findings, the Panel deemed both players had intentionally struck their opponents making medium impact to the head.
It emerged on Monday afternoon that Cripps had suffered a "small hairline fracture" in his jaw as a result of the incident, while Rowe was also revealed to have suffered some damage as a result of Hogan's strike.
Lewis will be forced to serve three weeks because of an existing bad record, missing games against the Cats, Fremantle and Richmond.
Jacob Weitering wasn't happy with Jordan Lewis' treatment of Patrick Cripps. #AFLDeesBlues pic.twitter.com/G7BKHPC72b
— AFL (@AFL) April 2, 2017
North Melbourne defender Scott Thompson was the only other player suspended out of round two, with the MRP offering him a one-match ban for striking Patrick Dangerfield.
Thompson landed a crude elbow to the face of the Brownlow medallist on Sunday, which was graded intentional conduct with low impact to the head.
He will miss Saturday's clash against Greater Western Sydney at Blundstone Arena.
It took Patrick Dangerfield a few moments to get to his feet after this clash with Scott Thompson. #AFLCatsNorth pic.twitter.com/bNLsLT1E3V
— AFL (@AFL) April 2, 2017
Teammate Braydon Preuss will be available, however, after escaping suspension for a late and clumsy knee to the back of Geelong's Jackson Thurlow.
The second-game ruckman has accepted a $1000 fine, with the incident graded careless conduct with medium impact to the body.
North Melbourne's Braydon Preuss has been reported for this bump on Jackson Thurlow. #AFLCatsNorth pic.twitter.com/EpV8RFOsAQ
— AFL (@AFL) April 2, 2017
Sydney midfielder Zak Jones has also avoided suspension for a late hit on Western Bulldogs forward Travis Cloke, with the MRP handing him a $1000 fine with an early guilty plea.
While Jones had appeared to make some high contact, the hit was graded careless conduct with medium impact to the body.
Zak Jones gave away a 50-metre penalty in this clash with Travis Cloke. #AFLDogsSwans pic.twitter.com/G3g70d2amj
— AFL (@AFL) March 31, 2017
Hawthorn defender Ben Stratton accepted a $1000 fine for intentionally striking Adelaide star Eddie Betts to the body in Saturday's clash.