ESSENDON defender Nathan Lovett-Murray will miss the next three weeks after the Bombers chose to accept the ban handed down by the match review panel.

Lovett-Murray was charged with a level-three rough conduct charge for a late hit on Richmond forward Kayne Pettifer in Saturday night's Dreamtime at the 'G match.

"It's disappointing because Nathan has been in really good touch," Essendon coach Matthew Knights said on Tuesday.

"Both offensively and defensively he has been providing us with a fair bit of impetus. He is going to be big loss for us."

Knights said defender Courtenay Dempsey was in doubt for Sunday's clash with Geelong after injuring his ankle late in the match against the Tigers.

He also said Mark McVeigh and Hayden Skipworth were in the mix after encouraging performances in the VFL last weekend.

Andrew Welsh will play in the VFL next week, his first game since severely injuring his ankle pre-season, but the Bombers will not rush Brent Prismall into the AFL side to face his old team.