Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin can escape with a reprimand for his rough conduct charge on Adelaide's Michael Doughty during Saturday night's thrilling win at AAMI Stadium.
While the decision of the match review panel rules Franklin out of Brownlow Medal contention, it leaves him free to tackle North Melbourne on Saturday if he opts to plead guilty.
His availability will not only help the Hawks chase a 12th win against the Kangaroos this weekend but also enables the devastating left-footer to continue building his lead in the race for the Coleman Medal.
But while it was good news for the Hawks there was bad news for Collingwood with its star forward Travis Cloke hit with a one-game suspension after being reported for the second successive week.
The match review panel assessed Franklin's high bump on Doughty exactly the same way as it assessed Sydney's Adam Goodes' bump on West Coast's Adam Selwood the week before when the dual Brownlow Medalist also escaped with a reprimand.
This was as negligent conduct, low impact and high contact - equating to a base tally of 125 points or a one-game ban.
However, if Franklin accepts the charge he will escape with 93.75 points and a reprimand because of the 25 percent points discount for an early guilty plea.
He will risk a one-match suspension if he decides to challenge the decision at the AFL tribunal.
But even if Franklin accepts the charge and receives a reprimand, he is still out of Brownlow Medal contention because the original charge was worth more than the 100-point cut-off for a one-match suspension.
Franklin has emerged as a genuine Brownlow Medal chance this season after an electrifying start to the season which has seen him kick 60 goals in 12 matches leaving him on target to become the first player to kick 100 goals in the home-and-away season since Sydney's Tony Lockett in 1998.
The man known as 'Buddy' retains a 10-goal lead over Carlton's Brendan Fevola in the race for the Coleman Medal with the injured Daniel Bradshaw back in third place on 43 goals.
But the 'Pies are counting the cost of their second loss to arch-rival Carlton this year with Cloke facing either a one or two-match suspension depending on whether he challenges his charge of striking Carlton's Michael Jamison.
Only last week Cloke escaped with a reprimand but 93.75 carry over points for his headbutt on Melbourne's Matthew Warnock.
His new charge carries another 125 points meaning a total of 218.75 points or a two-match ban.
But if he pleads guilty, Cloke's tally will fall to 164.06 points and a one-match suspension.
However, even a one-match suspension would be a major blow for the Magpies, who now find themselves just six points clear of ninth-placed North Melbourne and facing a match against third-placed Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
A two-match ban would also rule Cloke out of the traditional clash against in-form Sydney at ANZ Stadium in the second half of the split round.
His absence would be further felt given the 'Pies are already without fellow key forward Anthony Rocca (ankle).
There was better news for Geelong with the charge against reigning Norm Smith Medal winner Steve Johnson thrown out because the level of contact was below that required to constitute a reportable offence.
Meanwhile, Kangaroos skipper Adam Simpson can accept a reprimand and 70.31 points on his record