NORTH Melbourne onballer Ben Cunnington has dodged a date with the AFL tribunal but Sydney and Gold Coast are both set to lose players to suspension.
Match review officer Michael Christian has ruled Cunnington has no case to answer for an incident involving Essendon opponent Zach Merrett.
The star Kangaroo appeared to make incidental high contact while attempting to spoil from behind but was deemed not to have committed a reportable offence.
While Merrett might have put some mayo on the incident, Cunnington will be breathing a sigh of relief.
The rugged midfielder had already forked out $15,000 in fines and been charged with striking four times this season.
Another striking offence would present Christian the option of referring Cunnington directly to the tribunal.
Saturday’s last-minute loss to the Bombers left North two wins shy of the top eight and another defeat would all but bury their finals hopes.
The news wasn’t as good for Swans rookie Jordan Dawson and Suns midfielder Anthony Miles, both of whom were offered one-match bans – Dawson for a crude bump on Carlton’s Paddy Dow and Miles for an incident involving Adelaide’s Riley Knight.
North Melbourne’s Kayne Turner, Port Adelaide’s Cam Sutcliffe and Sydney’s Zak Jones were each fined for striking.
Port Adelaide’s Dougal Howard and Brisbane’s Josh Walker also copped financial sanctions for rough conduct.
© AAP 2019