GUN MELBOURNE recruit Steven May is set to miss his side's season opener after being hit with a one-match ban for engaging in rough conduct against Brisbane midfielder Jarrod Berry.



The incident happened early in the final term, after Berry had handballed the footy.



May's left shoulder made contact with the Lion and Match Review Officer Michael Christian found it was careless conduct with medium impact to the head.

Berry walked off the ground unassisted and was not concussed.

"Bearing in mind that any contact above the shoulders is regarded as high within the guidelines, we assessed that it was high contact to the neck and jaw," Christian said.



Christian explained how he found it to be medium impact.

"The three things we take into account with impact is the visual look of the incident, the player reaction and also the medical report," Christian said.

"Taking all those things into account, and the fact that Berry didn't return to the ground, it was graded as medium impact."



The Dees open their campaign against Port Adelaide on Saturday, March 23 at the MCG.



Fremantle small forward Brandon Matera can also accept a one-game suspension for striking West Coast forward Jake Waterman in the opening term of their clash on Sunday.



Christian found it to be intentional, with low impact to the head.

Waterman had handballed when Matera came in with a raised forearm and hit the Eagle in the side of his head.

Christian described him as "inconvenienced" for a couple of minutes but was then able to play on.



Six other charges were laid.

Underrated Hawthorn onballer Liam Shiels will be available for round one after striking Richmond youngster Jack Graham in the third term on Saturday.

His incident was assessed as intentional, with low impact to the body, and Shiels has been offered a $2000 fine.



Christian clarified why Shiels wasn't rubbed out.

Liam Shiels and Jack Graham were involved in an incident in the third quarter. #JLTSeries pic.twitter.com/ZEwcfzsbOu — AFL (@AFL) March 9, 2019

"It comes down to a question of impact, and I think we were really consistent last year, and the big change in 2019 is that free kicks will be paid," Christian said.

"It was pleasing to see a free kick paid against Liam in that particular case.

"But again, it comes back to a question of impact. Now, the guidelines haven't been changed with respect to striking."



Melbourne hard nut Aaron vandenBerg was hit twice with fines: $2000 for striking Lachie Neale in the first quarter on Saturday, which was seen as intentional conduct with low impact to the body, and another $1000 for making careless contact with umpire David Harris in the final term.

Aaron vandenBerg gave away a 50 metre penalty for this incident.#JLTSeries pic.twitter.com/IwDkjNMmGj — AFL (@AFL) March 9, 2019

His teammate Clayton Oliver was charged with striking Brisbane onballer Jarryd Lyons during the fourth quarter, and can accept a $1500 fine.

Young Port Adelaide forward Todd Marshall can accept at $2000 fine for engaging in rough conduct with North Melbourne backman Sam Wright on Saturday.

Speedy St Kilda forward Dean Kent was charged with engaging in rough conduct against the Western Bulldogs' Bailey Williams in the third quarter on Sunday, and will find himself $2000 poorer if he accepts the fine for the incident found to have been intentional conduct with low impact to the body.