DEFENDER Mitch Clisby is likely to miss the rest of the season, after he was handed a three-match suspension, with an early plea, by the match review panel.

Clisby was charged with engaging in rough conduct against Gold Coast’s Alex Sexton during the fourth quarter of last Saturday night’s 13-point loss at Metricon Staidium.

Melbourne has until Tuesday morning to decide whether to accept the three matches or contest the charge.

Clisby has played the past eight matches since he made his AFL debut against St Kilda in round 13 this year.

Match review panel details:

Mitch Clisby, Melbourne, has been charged after an investigation by the AFL Match Review Panel with a Level Four Engaging in Rough Conduct Offence (425 demerit points, four-match sanction) for engaging in rough conduct against Alex Sexton, Gold Coast Suns, during the fourth quarter of the Round 20 match between Melbourne and the Gold Coast Suns, played at Metricon Stadium on Saturday August 10, 2013.

In summary, he can accept a three-match sanction with an early plea.

Based on the investigation by the Match Review Panel, the incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), severe impact (four points) and body contact (one point). This is a total of seven activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Four Offence, drawing 425 demerit points and a four-match sanction. He has no existing good or bad record. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a 318.75 points and a three-match sanction.