West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui is free to play in next week’s AFL semi-final after escaping suspension for slamming an opponent into a fence.

Naitanui threw Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett into the boundary-line fence after the Bombers midfielder had tugged on his dreadlock during West Coast’s elimination final win on Thursday.

Naitanui can accept a $1000 fine with an early guilty plea, while Merrett was also slugged with a $1000 fine.