KEYforward Chris Dawes has accepted a one-match suspension for striking Richmonddefender Alex Rance.

Daweswill miss Melbourne’s clash against Port Adelaide at TIO Traeger Park in round11, given it has the bye this weekend.

Managerof football operations Josh Mahoney said the Demons were tempted to challenge,but felt the risks associated and the possibility of us winning it weren’tenough.

“Wewere tempted to challenge the grading in this instant, but the evidence of thevision and the medical report made it too much of a risk for us to challenge,” hetold melbournefc.com.au.

“Unfortunately,this will mean Chris will miss our next game in Alice Springs, but in not challenging, we weren’tprepared to take the risk for Chris to miss two games.

“He will take the opportunity tofreshen up and be raring to go for the second half of the year.”

Thestar Demon was charged with a level three striking offence (225 demerit points,two-match sanction).

Theincident happened in the first quarter of Melbourne’s 17-point win overRichmond at the MCG on Saturday.

Insummary, he was offered a one-match sanction with an early plea.

Basedon the video evidence available and a medical report from Richmond, theincident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), medium impact (twopoints) and high contact (two points).

Thiswas a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a leveltwo offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. Dawes had noexisting good or bad record. An early plea reduced the sanction by 25 per centto 168.75 demerit points and a one-match sanction.