Essendon has received a major blow ahead of Friday night's blockbuster against Carlton at the MCG with Mark McVeigh today accepting a one-match penalty for striking Melbourne's Jared Rivers.

McVeigh was reported during the third quarter of the Clash for Cancer played last Friday night.

The 28-year-old was handed a two-match penalty which was reduced to one-game with an early guilty plea.

Football operations manager, Paul Hamilton, said it was disappointing to lose the 180-game veteran for such an important match but accepting a guilty plea was the best option.

"Mark understands he made a mistake and feels that he has let himself and his teammates down," Hamilton said.

"He is a fierce competitor and I know he is extremely disappointed to miss Friday's blockbuster against one of our biggest rivals. He has been in good form in the past few rounds and has been improving each week so there is no doubt we will miss him.

"The upside of today's announcement is that Mark will be available for the Collingwood game the following Friday night which is also shaping as a massive clash for the club."

Hamilton said a number of players were in contention to return to the side including injured trio Henry Slattery (hamstring), Tom Bellchambers (knee) and Michael Hurley (wrist) while Nathan Lovett-Murray returns from suspension and Bachar Houli has recovered from a virus.

• PLAYER PROFILE: Mark McVeigh

       

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A bit od depth to cover McVeigh - Slattery or Lovett-Murray?

- David Djurovitch (posted 22/06/2009 4:10:38 PM)

What a blow

- Danny Namoni (posted 22/06/2009 4:13:03 PM)

I'm VERY disappointed that Mark McVeigh has copped a 1 match penalty! I didn't think there was anything in that report at all. Looking forward to you coming back the week after against Collingwood, Spike.

- Sue ONeill (posted 22/06/2009 4:20:35 PM)

we knew that was coming, lovett murray back great news & hopefully hurley can get a run

- Damian Lake (posted 22/06/2009 4:21:59 PM)

Damm! Thats a big out! The young fellas are gonna need to stand up once again. Did it earlier in the year, can do it again. Go Dons!!

- Daylan Pearce (posted 22/06/2009 4:23:28 PM)

What happened to Ling--his was worse

- Pamela Norris (posted 22/06/2009 4:28:26 PM)

Spike that was silly of you, and you'll be sorely missed, but never mind we are a big chance against the blues. Hopefully you learn from this and come back refreashed for the big game collingwood clash. but all that said your still a champ for flying the flag.GO DONS!

- MOSES B (posted 22/06/2009 4:28:27 PM)

APPEAL APPEAL we need him. please appeal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Sadeq Abbasszadeh (posted 22/06/2009 4:32:07 PM)

What a joke - I have seen more players commit that offence and either get off or get a downgrade to 90 points. Once again Essendon fall on the sword of the tribunal hand down - don't our lawyers use precedent?

- Jonathan Woods (posted 22/06/2009 4:37:17 PM)

What utter rubbish!!! I agree he did not do the correct thing but Barry Hall does pretty much the same and gets nothing. Typical AFL favouritism of Sydney, they are so desperate for Sydney to be playing well. I am certain they instructed the MRP to let off Barry Hall the other week.

- Anthony Wald (posted 22/06/2009 4:38:14 PM)

There was nothing in it...come on other clubs get away with worse then that!!! Very unfair!!! Gonna miss u Spike...you are a great player but we know you are gonna be twice as good against Collingwood!!! GO BOMBERS!!!

- Belinda Purves (posted 22/06/2009 4:44:12 PM)

We didnt have him in round 3 and we won... since then we have added players such as Prismall, Welsh, Reimers and Lucas(into some form). Yes we have lost Hille but we have Ryder who is progressing very well as a ruckman. Have Hurley come in, and have Cale Hooker help in ruck! Carn the Dons! Bad Luck McVeigh!

- Jake Mutton (posted 22/06/2009 4:44:53 PM)

There goes his shot at the captaincy.

- Andrew Dunsy (posted 22/06/2009 4:52:12 PM)

Mark, as a potential Captain of this Club you had better start looking at that temper of yours!!! A Player of your calibre and status should be able to handle all situations. Please, a little more discipline and example-setting for those Baby Bombers!!!!! Now let's move on.

- Julie Quirk (posted 22/06/2009 4:54:21 PM)

I dint think there was much in it but as a leader of this club should know that if he gets involved in the "push-shove" during a game anything could happen and now we have to pay for it. The young guys have carried the bombers this far now its up to the older experienced guys: Lloyd, Lucas, Fletcher and McVeigh etc to finish off the good work...it doesnt't get any bigger than Carlton/Collingwood so lets get real and kick some butt...

- john watson (posted 22/06/2009 4:56:09 PM)

Level 3 strike, you got to be kidding me. No contact. The afl has gone soft and we always seem to pay the price. Dont worry boys this friday night we will bring the g down.

- Rob Apostoloski (posted 22/06/2009 5:06:51 PM)

These things happen in the heat of the moment. We have depth and we can cover him to hammer the hapless Blues. Our discipline has been excellent this year in that regard.

- Brett Crabtree (posted 22/06/2009 5:07:45 PM)

Jesus Macca, you've let us all down again trying to be tough in the wrong bloody way!! Why go off half cocked when the games sown up and there was no reason to fly the flag or have a brain fade like Barry Hall!! You do it every season and it hurts us every time. We need your grit and experience week in week out on the park not in the stands, pull ya head mate!!

- Simon Rohde (posted 22/06/2009 5:20:36 PM)

guessed it would be a week out. i hope we dont appeal beacuse their is no way he will get off and we need him against collingwod espicially if they dont have pendles in. we beat carlton without him and we can do it again. just hope he accepts the ban. got some great players to bring in 2 cover him lovett-murry, zaka, hurley and slattery and we added welsh, reimers and prismal sine last time. just think b4 u act buddy. go bombers next 4 weeks will show us where we r at.

- Nick Holdsworth (posted 22/06/2009 5:21:01 PM)

A one game suspension for mcveigh does have a few small upsides. 1 he gets a weeks rest that way he will be at his absolute best for the colingwood game. 2 it allows other players that are really capable of having a impact to break into the team such as zaharakis, lovett-murray, houli, the list goes on. Essendon please DON'T rush Hurley and Bellchambers into the team give them both another two to three weeks to get back into shape.

- Dominic Lauricella (posted 22/06/2009 5:23:55 PM)

what about the mooney elbow to skippys face when we played geelong. that went unnoticed. poor decision. good thing bombers have some depth to hopefully cover spike. still a big loss

- Aaron Wright (posted 22/06/2009 5:27:51 PM)

i lovee the way mcveigh plays but i just think he was an idiot for doing that and it could cost us the game next week i think he should take a long look at himself and stay out of it next time

- stephanie versace (posted 22/06/2009 5:38:33 PM)

Stupid behaviour, McVeigh!

- Luke Dummett (posted 22/06/2009 5:41:33 PM)

This is rather upsetting, but it gives a chance for another youngster to come in. Bring in Hurley, enough said...

- Joseph Attard (posted 22/06/2009 5:47:27 PM)

If he was the Collingwood captain then he would have got off. Have a look at the replay which I have studied and McClaren appears to make his mind up to report spike after a Melbourne player suggests same. A free kick certainly but not a report. I have seen ten worse incidents that were not reported this year alone, when do we stand up for ourselves. The threat of an extra week for appealing makes this a bad system if you believe you are innocent.

- Ron Mercer (posted 22/06/2009 5:53:28 PM)

that aint fair . cameron ling punches a fremantle player in the stomach he gets off it mark mcveigh punches a melbourne player in the face and he gets a one week suspension whats going on there

- Norman Cacciattolo (posted 22/06/2009 5:57:07 PM)

Dissapointed in many ways. 6 day break to Essendon 13 day break to Carlton. GET FIRED UP BOYS!! WANNA WIN THIS ONE!!

- Samantha Kisielis (posted 22/06/2009 5:59:38 PM)

"Foul"... "Contact wing-defence"....... ridiculous.

- Matt Dawson (posted 22/06/2009 6:03:19 PM)

Keep the same line-up as last week though the forced inclusion would be Lovett-Murray to come back in and spark the side like he did against Richmond. Look out Carlton. WE ARE WAITING!!!

- Nathan Bloomfield (posted 22/06/2009 6:11:19 PM)

Keep the same line-up as last week though the forced inclusion would be Lovett-Murray to come back in and spark the side like he did against Richmond. Look out Carlton. WE ARE WAITING!!!

- Nathan Bloomfield (posted 22/06/2009 6:12:41 PM)

Bad luck Spike.The down side is if ya gunna get rubbed out for a week,you should have belted him harder.

- Elbows Bull (posted 22/06/2009 6:17:41 PM)

arghhh. i want us to win against carlton more then anyone.. i saw a melbourne player punch lonergan i think it was and that was so much worse then what mcveigh did! SO FRUSTRATING. i hope zakas playing on friday!

- Lara O'Dea (posted 22/06/2009 6:27:13 PM)

Bring in Lovett-Murray for McVeigh, Houli at half-back and have Cale Hooker help out in the ruck. Can't wait until we smash Carlton. GO THE BOMBERS!!!

- Agron Dauti (posted 22/06/2009 6:33:58 PM)

I thought it would only get a repremand as there was very little in it and Spike had a clean record why did Ling get off? and Hall on numerous occations will be good to have you back for the pies GO BOMBERS

- Simon Mayo (posted 22/06/2009 6:34:50 PM)

That does not deserve a 1 match ban!!! I'm appalled in the result. There was nothing in that and Cameron Ling copped a reprimand for a low punch?!?!?!

- Jezza Chau (posted 22/06/2009 6:55:03 PM)

the afl is a joke. as if barry halls moment of madness a few weeks back agaisnt hawthorn didnt deserve atleast a week or more for his attempted strike on sam mitchell, mcveigh through a jumper punch, hall had no hand on mitchells jumper. the tribunial has got it wrong once again.

- Anthony Zeniou (posted 22/06/2009 7:15:41 PM)

Should've fought it. Will be a big loss. How soft is the AFL making our great game. Almost as soft as Carlton and Collingwood. Regards Ivar.

- Ivar Biggen (posted 22/06/2009 7:20:39 PM)

I hope Spikes lack of discipline does n`t cost us in what shapes up to be a tight contest as most of our games against Carlton have been recently. Good luck boys.

- tom marshall (posted 22/06/2009 7:25:03 PM)

50 points up, the game is well and truly won, we have a huge game against Carlton 7 days away and McVeigh punches someone - he is a repeat offender. Get out his file and mark it - 'Never to lead the club'.

- Craig Tanner (posted 22/06/2009 8:00:58 PM)

that is a massive blow!!!!!!!!!!!!

- jessica flood (posted 22/06/2009 8:21:54 PM)

Our consolation is its only one week. I'd suggest we need Nathan Lovett-Murray back in the team. He has been playing well on the MCG. Don't take this the wrong way, we absolutely need the aggression in this game.

- Richard Hayward (posted 22/06/2009 8:26:33 PM)

in all honesty he is replaceable in zaharkis & lovett-murray out hocking & mcveigh no disrespect to hocking

- David Mitchell Mitchell (posted 22/06/2009 8:40:56 PM)

SOFT,but Spike should know better for a future leader,sometimes i hate this pansy new age tippy touch game,everyone loves a bit of a on field dust-up,if they did it down Pt ADelaide they might get more than 5,000 a game,ha ha!

- mawby Ian (posted 22/06/2009 8:56:34 PM)

The MRP should have a good look at themselves as I think they always target some teams and let others off.I have seen worse this year and no one got rubbed out for them.

- Al Bishop (posted 22/06/2009 9:35:10 PM)

Hurley to come in and teach Fev a lesson.

- Coral Bryant (posted 22/06/2009 9:35:21 PM)

Disappointing Mark!!! Can't afford to miss a player of his quality in a big match like this one. How did Lloyd only manade to kick 3 goals against mel considering how early in the game he'd booted 3...... Lloyd circa 99-01 would have gone on to kick 8 at least. Mcveigh should be made captain next year, Lloyd to continue playing as a full-forward only. We need him kicking bags again. He can do it for another 2 years max ( after this one).

- Craig Hughes (posted 22/06/2009 9:52:29 PM)

A bit harsh Craig Tanner, spike is an Essendon man who bleeds red and black for his club and jumper. Regards Ivar.

- Ivar Biggen (posted 22/06/2009 10:04:54 PM)

Throwing a punch on field these days is bit of a cowardly act because you know that no-one is going to risk suspension by hitting back. Zaharakis if fit, to replace him and be assigned to tag one of the C'ton midfield.

- Francis Connolly (posted 22/06/2009 10:24:22 PM)

You guys stating that Spike has now dashed his chances of captaining this club in the future are kidding yourselves. One or two acts of frustration over a career doesn't demand the cries of blood that we are hearing. Suspended twice in ten years playing a combative game where you want leaders flying the flag. Imagine if we said to Lloyd after the headbut in 2001 that 'sorry son that's your chance blown'. Also Ricky Ponting after the Bourbon & Beefsteak incident, 'You'll never captain Australia son'. Everyone be careful of knee-jerk reactions to a jumper-punch that landed.

- Rob Fisher (posted 22/06/2009 10:57:00 PM)

McVeigh ... Eye expected a week & that's what he got. Another thing, as some of the other supporters have already noted .. He does wear a Red / Black jumper,that is the problem ... you only have to look back over the years. When you look at other players that have got off - a joke! The good news is that we can still beat this Carlton mob. GO BOMBERS!!!!!!

- Victor Tallis (posted 23/06/2009 12:44:51 AM)

The best thing Ivar has said in months. I agree, the Bombers should`ve fought it. I reckon the contact wasn`t forceful enough. Lets just hope all the boys can cover him. Zaka, Hurley, L Murray, Jetta and maybe even Nash look the goods. Go Bombers.

- Cory Williams (posted 23/06/2009 2:30:00 AM)

VERY SELFISH MCVEIGH... WHATS MORE IMPORTANT? WINNING IMPORTANT GAMES OR SHOWING OFF HOW 'TOUGH' YOU ARE...AS AN ESSENDON SUPPORTER THANK YOU FOR GIVING CARLTON MORE OF A CHANCE NOW...JUST SHOWS WHY YOU SHOULDNT BE THE NEXT CAPTAIN BECAUSE THIS ISNT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. CHEERS!

- afradopilious frette (posted 23/06/2009 7:55:11 AM)

Why aren't Hurley and Bellchambers mentioned on the injury news page anymore?

- Andrew Howard (posted 23/06/2009 8:40:27 AM)

Very dissappointing from such a senior player at such a crucial time in the season. Time to show some leadership!

- Tina Saccone (posted 23/06/2009 9:10:04 AM)

this friday night is the chance to beat a in form side dont get excited about beating out of form sides toughen up players

- Dave Davo (posted 23/06/2009 9:32:57 AM)

hurley is back, not sure about bellchambers though he was another couple. cant believe it was rated worse than Ling by the match review panel or whatever they are.

- Travis Cusack (posted 23/06/2009 9:46:20 AM)

Maybe bring in Hurley to replace McVeigh this week. Go Bombers!

- Robyn Gill (posted 23/06/2009 10:58:31 AM)

How many times was loyd reported before named captain, more than mcveigh i think.

- anastasia Meek (posted 23/06/2009 5:30:45 PM)

Sadeq, I think they have appled. Be grateful it was reduiced from two games to one game!!

- Nathan Boyes (posted 23/06/2009 10:09:55 PM)

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