Richmond utility Shane Edwards will miss Richmond’s last pre-finals hitout after being suspended for one match by the AFL Tribunal.
Edwards chose to challenge a one-match sanction imposed for a level three striking offence against GWS youngster Liam Sumner.
Due to Edwards’ six-year good record, the sanction was reduced from two matches to one.
The ban would have remained at one match even if Edwards had accepted an early guilty plea.
The tribunal upheld the charge, ruling Edwards out of Saturday’s dead rubber against Essendon and seeing 68.75 carryover points added to his future record.
But Edwards, 24, is certain to return to the Richmond lineup for an elimination final the following week as the club returns to the playoff action for the first time in 12 years.
Essendon midfielder Heath Hocking will also miss Saturday night’s clash with the Tigers at the MCG after accepting a one-match suspension for striking Carlton’s Chris Yarran.
Gold Coast’s Steven May has also accepted a one-game ban for striking St Kilda forward Stephen Milne.
Hawthorn’s Brad Sewell has been docked $1950 for making reckless contact with an umpire and West Coast captain Darren Glass has been fined $900 for wrestling.