Lance Franklin is free to play this Saturday night against Essendon at the Gabba, after the AFL Tribunal downgraded his charge and the initial one match suspension from the Match Review Officer.

Match Review Officer Michael Christian initially assessed the striking action as careless conduct, high contact and medium impact, which drew an automatic one-game ban.

Legal counsel representing Franklin, successfully argued the impact of the incident with Luke Ryan was low rather than medium. The re-grading of the incident to low impact, saw the penalty reduced to a financial sanction.

Vision of three similar incidents from the 2021 season - all graded as low impact - were submitted as evidence to the tribunal.

After 30 minutes of deliberation, the tribunal jury deemed the appropriate grading for the charge was low impact.

Franklin received a $3000 sanction but is free to take his place in the team this Saturday night against Essendon.