Jarrad Waite's brilliant return from a shoulder injury has been soured with the AFL's match review panel offering the North Melbourne forward a one-match ban with an early plea.
Waite and St Kilda's Koby Stevens were the only players to be slapped with suspensions after the MRP's assessment of round seven action.
Playing his first game since round one, Waite kicked six goals in the Kangaroos' stunning 59-point rout of previously unbeaten Adelaide, but attracted the attention of the MRP with his second-quarter tackle on Tom Lynch.
The Crows forward was driven into the turf at Blundstone Arena and left the game with a concussion.
The MRP charged Waite with rough conduct after the action was assessed as careless conduct with medium impact to the head, which attracted a two-game ban.
Waite will miss Sunday's clash against Sydney at Etihad Stadium with an early guilty plea and the round nine clash against Melbourne as well if he unsuccessfully challenges the charge at the tribunal.
The 34-year-old's potential loss is a huge blow for North, who have won their past two games after starting the season with five losses.
Stevens was also charged with rough conduct for his tackle on Greater Western Sydney's Nathan Wilson.
He can accept a one-game suspension with an early plea, but risks two games if he challenges the charge at the tribunal and fails.
Sydney superstar Lance Franklin was deemed to have no case to answer after his altercation with Brisbane's Nick Robertson.
The pair locked horns in an off-the-ball incident late in the third quarter of Sunday's clash at the SCG with both appearing to land blows to the head while holding each other's jumpers.
But the MRP deemed all contact made was below that necessary to attract a charge.
Adelaide's Charlie Cameron, Fremantle's Matt Taberner and St Kilda's Jack Steven can all accept fines.
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