GOLD Coast co-captain Steven May has been given a reprieve after he was fined $2000 for a heavy strike to the midriff of star North Melbourne midfielder Shaun Higgins on Sunday.

In one of a series of off-the-ball incidents involving Higgins, both May and Suns tagger Alex Sexton were slapped with fines for striking the Brownlow Medal contender behind play.

May struck Higgins in the stomach in the third quarter, giving away a crucial free kick and goal just as the Suns were beginning to reduce a significant early deficit.

FINES GALORE Read the MRO's full statement

However, despite being cited, he is free to play in Gold Coast's clash with Essendon at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night after accepting the fine.

Match Review Officer Michael Christian said he was comfortable with May's off-the-ball hit being graded low impact.

That came despite comparisons to Michael Walters' round 12 hit on Adelaide's Jake Kelly, which was graded as medium impact and worthy of a one-match suspension.

"Visually, it looked harder and it looked more forceful," Christian said.

"Jake Kelly was certainly more impeded by what had happened. We also take into account the medical report.

"Across those three areas, in terms of grading impact, it certainly came out as medium in that particular case, as opposed to the Steven May case, which we believe fitted comfortably in the low impact range."

Sexton's incident happened further away from the play, with the Suns midfielder flooring Higgins with a glancing elbow to the stomach.

He too accepted a fine, his sanction worth $1500, after he was cited for misconduct.

Melbourne veteran Jordan Lewis was also fined, but is free to play this weekend, after his stray elbow on Fremantle speedster Michael Walters cost his side a 50m penalty.

It is the 17th time Lewis has been found guilty of an incident across his 297-game career, with the 32-year-old parting with $2000 for the striking charge.

WATCH Lewis floors Walters

Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones was fined $2000 and forward Jesse Hogan $1500 after both were charged with misconduct for strikes on Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale.

Elsewhere across the weekend, Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko was fined $2000 for making unreasonable contact to the eyes of Carlton skipper Marc Murphy.

Port Adelaide duo Lindsay Thomas ($2000) and Brad Ebert ($1500) were also fined during their clash with St Kilda for rough conduct and striking incidents respectively.

Hawthorn youngster Blake Hardwick was fined $1500 for striking Patrick Lipinski.

A series of players were also fined for making careless contact with an umpire, including Jade Gresham ($1500), Ben Cunnington ($1500) and Rhys Mathieson ($1000).

Young Lion Oscar McInerney's match-day report for striking was thrown out.