RICHMOND vice-captain Brett Deledio is free to face Melbourne in round nine after having his one-week ban for striking reduced to a reprimand at the Tribunal on Tuesday night.

Deledio, who returned from an Achilles injury against Geelong in round seven after a month on the sidelines, was charged by the Match Review Panel with a level three striking offence (225 points) for his hit on Geelong midfielder Mathew Stokes.

It was originally graded as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.

However, the jury of Wayne Henwood, Wayne Schimmelbusch and Emmett Dunne reduced the charge to reckless conduct, resulting in a level two striking offence and 125 demerit points.

Deledio's six-year good record reduced the penalty further by 25 per cent, allowing him to escape with a reprimand and 93.75 carryover points.

The midfielder, who said after the hearing he was thrilled to escape a suspension and "was just playing the game", will now be available to face the Demons after the Tigers' bye this weekend.

Deledio was represented by Michael Tovey QC, who highlighted that he had been shoved by Cat Cameron Guthrie and was off balance when he moved to shove Stokes. 

He said the fact his client was not firmly on the ground meant his arm caught Stokes high. A medical report showed Stokes had suffered no injury.  

The Tigers effectively had a free swing at the Tribunal on Tuesday night and did not risk an extra week's ban by challenging.

It was the second high-profile case of the night after Melbourne's Jack Viney failed in his bid to overturn a rough conduct charge.