Star Magpie hit for six

Collingwood wingman Ben Johnson will miss the rest of the 2007 AFL season - regardless of how the Magpies fare in next month's finals series - if he decides to accept a six-match suspension from the AFL match review panel for his head-high bump on Melbourne's Daniel Bell.

The panel hit the star midfielder with the equal heaviest suspension of the season for making forceful contact from front-on with Bell during Friday night's clash at the MCG.

And Johnson could have been hit with an even heavier suspension if the panel had ruled his actions to be intentional.

There was good news for Essendon with skipper Matthew Lloyd cleared of any wrongdoing over an incident in which he crashed into the back of Carlton youngster Paul Bower.

The panel ruled the contact was unavoidable after Lloyd's opponent nudged him slightly, which contributed to the contact, leaving the star full-forward free to play in Kevin Sheedy and James Hird's farewell match in Melbourne against Richmond at the MCG on Sunday night.

Richmond youngster Jake King will also be free to play in that match after being cleared of any reportable offence for an incident in which his fist made contact to the face of Eagle Steve Armstrong in a marking contest, with the panel ruling it a legitimate attempt to spoil.

West Coast forward Brent Staker's match-day report for striking Richmond's Adam Pattison during the same game was also thrown out while there was mixed news for Brisbane ahead of its mini elimination final against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night.

The match day report against star midfielder Luke Power was thrown out but defender Jason Roe was offered a one match suspension for his front-on bump to Sydney's Luke Brennan.

Roe's clash with Brennan was not viewed as seriously as Johnson's with the panel ruling it negligent conduct, medium impact and high contact - equating to 250 points which drops to 187.5 points if Roe accepts the charge.

In contrast Johnson's clash with Bell - which resulted in play being stopped for about five minutes as the young Demon was taken off on a stretcher - was ruled as reckless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

This equated to a base total of 750 points, which rose to 820.3 points because Johnson had an extra 70 points on his record after accepting a reprimand only last week.

As a result Johnson will risk an eight-match suspension if he decides to challenge the panel's decision at the tribunal on Tuesday night. If he accepts the charge he will receive a 25 per cent points discount, dropping his punishment to 615.23 points and a six-match ban.

That would equal the suspension handed to team-mate Brodie Holland for charging during last year's elimination final loss to the Bulldogs and to Dockers' forward Farmer for eye-gouging during the pre-season NAB Cup.

Meanwhile, the panel also handed out $900 fines to Port's Daniel Motlop and Hawthorn's Luke Hodge for wrestling each other while Geelong defender Darren Milburn can accept a $600 fine for the unusual charge of misconduct in that he interfered with Shannon Grant while he was kicking for goal during Sunday's match at Telstra Dome by throwing his mouthguard at him.