Star forward Lance Franklin is free to face Geelong on Friday night after being offered a fine by the Match Review Panel.

Franklin was charged with making unreasonable or unnecessary contact to the face of Luke Hodge during the first quarter of Friday night's loss to the Hawks.

Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the Hawthorn Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with low impact to the head.

The incident was a second classifiable offence and therefore classified as a $2500 sanction. The player has no applicable record with impacts the penalty. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1500 sanction.

Franklin was however cleared of further contact with Hodge during the first quarter of Friday night's match.

The panel said that as Hodge disposed of the ball, Franklin made contact high with the inside of his arm. A free kick was paid downfield at the time to Hawthorn.

It was the view of the panel that Franklin’s action was not a striking motion.