The Brisbane Lions will be without another of the Club's key playmakers this Saturday night, after Vice-Captain Tom Rockliff received a one-match suspension from the AFL Match Review Panel on Monday.

Rockliff was been charged with a Level Two Striking Offence for an incident involving Richmond’s Alex Rance during last Saturday’s match at the MCG.

Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Richmond Football Club, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point).

This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Two Offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction.

Given Rockliff has an existing bad record of 68.75 carry-over points from within the last 12 months (he was suspended in Round 1 for striking Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell), the penalty was increased to 193.75 points and a one-match sanction.

After reviewing the evidence and assessing the options, the Club and Rockliff decided to take an early guilty plea. Although the one-match ban remains, the charge was reduced by 25% to 145.31 points.

The absence of the 2011 Club Champion proves another huge blow for the Lions' midfield, with midfielders Jack Redden (foot) and Daniel Rich (knee) already sidelined.

In fact, it will be the first time that the Lions will play a match without any of the ‘Three R’s’ since the trio were drafted at the end of 2008.

Claye Beams has also taken an early guilty plea for a First Offence for Making Reckless Contact with an Umpire, but has escaped with a fine

Meanwhile, the Lions’ upcoming opponent, West Coast, has also been hit hard by the MRP, with gun forward Josh Kennedy suspended for this Saturday's match. 

Kennedy was booked for a Level Three Engaging in Rough Conduct Offense, and opted to take the early guilty plea and accept the one-match sanction.