MIDFIELDER Bernie Vince has accepted a one-match suspension from the match review panel and will miss this weekend’s game against Collingwood.
Vince was cited for striking North Melbourne’s Jamie Macmillan during Sunday’s five-point loss at Blundstone Arena.
Melbourne investigated the possibility of challenging the suspension but based on the options available, elected to accept the penalty.
“The MRP finding and subsequent grading of an incident involving Bernie Vince left us little opportunity to challenge,” general manager of football operations Josh Mahoney told melbournefc.com.au.
“We did investigate some potential angles to have the charge downgraded, however the likelihood of success and the pending two match suspension if not successful has positioned our response to not challenge and accept the early plea of one match.
“This is a disappointing outcome having Bernie miss an important game this week for what he has admitted was an unnecessary and clumsy incident.”
The incident was deemed intentional, high contact and low impact.
Vince was given a two-match suspension, which was reduced to one match with an early guilty plea.