Ben Cunnington will miss North’s first game of the season after accepting a one-match ban from the Match Review Panel.

The midfielder, one of the Roos’ standout pre-season performers, was charged with engaging in rough conduct on Sunday at Arden Street.

“We’re obviously disappointed not to have Ben available for our season opener against the Eagles, but based on the classification handed to us by the MRP and after taking legal advice, there were no solid grounds for us to challenge the charge,” North GM of Football Cameron Joyce told NMFC.com.au.

“It’s something we deliberated over for much of yesterday and again this morning, but it was decided the risk of losing him for an additional week was too great.”

Cunnington’s early plea reduces his initial two-match ban to one-match.

The Match Review Panel's original findings were as follows:

Ben Cunnington, North Melbourne, has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against Taylor Duryea, Hawthorn, during the second quarter of the Week Two JLT Community Series match between North Melbourne and Hawthorn, played at Arden Street on Sunday February 26, 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 Hawthorn Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with medium impact to the head. 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.