Ben Cunnington has been charged with striking Bulldog Toby McLean.

The midfielder could miss North’s trip to the Gold Coast after the Match Review Panel (MRP) offered the number 10 a one-match suspension.

The MRP deemed the incident as “intentional conduct with low impact to the head/neck/throat area”. The decision results in a two-match suspension, however it can be reduced to one week with an early guilty plea.

North have until tomorrow morning to decide whether to appeal the decision at the tribunal.

The full MRP ruling

Ben Cunnington, North Melbourne, has been charged with striking Toby McLean, Western Bulldogs, during the fourth quarter of the Round 14 match between North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Saturday June 24, 2017.

In summary, he can accept a one-match sanction with an early plea.

Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the Western Bulldogs Football Club, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct with low impact to the head/neck/throat area. The incident was classified as a two-match sanction. The player has no applicable record which impacts the penalty. An early plea enables the player to accept a one-match sanction.