Essendon AFL midfielder Zach Merrett has been handed a one-match ban for his punch which sent Carlton’s Jack Silvagni to hospital with a fractured rib and a bruised lung.

Merrett struck Silvagni with a swinging left fist on Saturday just as the Carlton utility kicked the ball during the Blues’ one-point win.

Silvagni spent the night in hospital, with the Blues expecting him to miss at least a week with the injury.

AFL match review officer Michael Christian assessed the strike as careless conduct with high impact and body contact, resulting in a one-match ban.

Merrett’s teammate Andrew McGrath can escape with a $750 fine for striking Sam Walsh.

West Coast defender Will Schofield received a one-match suspension for headbutting Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters.

The incident happened after Port kicked a goal, and it was assessed as intentional conduct with low impact and high contact.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson blasted Schofield after the incident.

West Coast forward Jamaine Jones can accept a $1000 sanction for striking Justin Westhoff.

Five players were fined for taking part in a melee on Saturday night during Gold Coast’s win over Fremantle.

Suns duo Touk Miller and Pearce Hanley, and Fremantle pair Matt Taberner and Caleb Serong were all offered $500 fines.

Dockers defender Luke Ryan can accept a $1250 fine, given it’s his third offence for engaging in a melee.

Gold Coast’s Charlie Ballard was offered a $1000 fine with an early guilty plea for engaging in rough conduct against James Aish during the fourth quarter.