RICHMOND defender Alex Rance has accepted a two-match suspension for his crude strike to the back of Jack Watts' head in Sunday's clash against Melbourne.
The All Australian defender, who is arguably the Tigers' most important player, will miss matches against Port Adelaide and Hawthorn in another setback for the 1-4 Tigers.
The MRP, which had the option to upgrade the impact of Rance's hit because of the risk of serious injury, used a medical report from the Demons and assessed the strike as intentional conduct with medium impact the head.
Rance was one of 26 players charged out of the first eight games of round five, with $29,500 in fines handed out for melees in clashes involving Port Adelaide, Geelong, Melbourne and Richmond.
Port Adelaide defender Jackson Trengove has accepted a one-match ban for striking Geelong captain Joel Selwood, with the MRP grading his hit as intentional conduct with low impact to the head.
Selwood, however, was cleared of striking Trengove in the same tussle off the ball, with the MRP deeming there was insufficient force to constitute a reportable offence.
Melbourne's Tom Bugg was handed a $1000 fine for making contact with an injured player after pushing Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt as he made his way off the ground accompanied by trainers and nursing an ankle injury.
North Melbourne midfielder Ben Cunnington also escaped suspension, with the MRP offering him a $1000 fine for rough conduct after he fell knee first into Gold Coast star Gary Ablett's back.
The incident was assessed as careless conduct with low impact to the body.
Port Adelaide star Robbie Gray was offered a $1500 fine for an off-the-ball hit on Geelong's Tom Ruggles.
It was the midfielder's second classifiable offence this season after he was charged with striking Greater Western Sydney captain Callan Ward in round four, meaning his next minor offence will earn him a one-match ban and rule him out of the running for the Brownlow Medal.
Teammate Tom Jonas was cleared for the incident that sparked the melee between Port Adelaide and Geelong players in which he charged into star Cat Patrick Dangerfield's back after the quarter time siren sounded.
The MRP said Jonas's actions were reasonable in the circumstances, given the Power defender got both hands to the ball and the siren had sounded when the ball was in flight.
Melbourne midfielder Jack Viney was also cleared by the MRP for remonstrating with Rance after the defender's hit on Watts, with the panel deeming contact was made with an open hand to Rance's chest.
Port defender Jasper Pittard was charged as the instigator of Saturday night's melee and has accepted a $1500 fine.
Jasper Pittard's hit on Tom Ruggles reignited the melee. Picture: AFL Media
The other players charged were: Hamish Hartlett, Cam O'Shea, Travis Boak, Jackson Trengove, Jimmy Toumpas, Rhys Stanley, Nakia Cockatoo, Josh Caddy, Tom Hawkins, Tom Ruggles, Corey Enright and Mark Blicavs
The MRP did not charge an instigator in the melee between Richmond and Melbourne, with nine players charged: Jack Viney, Lynden Dunn, Jayden Hunt, Jake Batchelor, Tyrone Vickery, Daniel Rioli, Sam Lloyd, Kamdyn McIntosh, Nathan Jones.
