Essendon will regain James Hird and Matthew Lloyd for this weekend's match with the Western Bulldogs but the excitement has been tempered after star full back Dustin Fletcher was suspended for two matches by the AFL tribunal this evening. Fletcher pleaded guilty to striking Melbourne's Nathan Brown in the opening quarter of last Friday night's match at Colonial Stadium. Fletcher's suspension combined with Mark Mercuri's injury mean the Bombers will again be well short of full strength this weekend.

Fletcher hoped the guilty plea would count in his favour when the tribunal sat down to consider an appropriate penalty. But in handing down the decision tribunal chairman Brian Collis said both Fletcher's prior record and the nature of the charge meant he would be suspended for two matches. Collis cited the fact that contact had been made with the head of a player unable to protect himself. Fletcher has now been suspended six times by the AFL tribunal - three times for striking, twice for tripping and once for misconduct. He will miss Essendon's matches with the Western Bulldogs and West Coast in Perth before returning for Essendon's Round 16 clash with Geelong.