Essendon ruckman David Hille has been charged with striking Kangaroo ruckman David Hale in the fourth quarter of last Saturday night's match at The Dome. The match review panel considered Hille's actions negligent, high impact, in play and to the head. They said the action constituted a three-week suspension which will be reduced to two with an early plea.

Essendon officials are still to decide whether they will accept the match review ruling or take the case to the appeals board. Thankfully, Hille's charge is the only one the Bombers will have to consider in the aftermath on the weekend's below-par performance.

Contact between Jason Laycock and the Kangaroos' Nathan Thompson from the third quarter of Saturday's match was reviewed. It was the view of the panel that Laycock went back to contest the ball and contact was unavoidable and accidental. No further action was required.

Contact between Dean Solomon and the Kangaroos' Michael Firrito from the fourth quarter of Saturday's match was reviewed. It was the view of the panel the contact by Solomon to the side of the face with an open hand was considered minimal and the incident was therefore not reportable.