Essendon needs to reach the grand final for Dustin Fletcher to play again this season after the star fullback was suspended for two games for striking by the AFL tribunal.

Fletcher was found guilty of striking Fremantle's Roger Hayden last Friday night and for the second year running will miss a semi-clash with Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium through his recklessness.

Should the Bombers beat the Power on Saturday night he will also miss a preliminary final against Collingwood the following week.

It was Fletcher's ninth guilty verdict at the tribunal - seven in the past four seasons - and his record ensured a fortnight out for what defence advocate Iain Findlay said was on "the lower end of the (striking) scale".

Brisbane was also dealt another blow ahead of Friday night's semi-final against Adelaide at the Gabba, with utility Tim Notting suspended for one game for charging Collingwood's Heath Scotland last Saturday night.

Notting said he jumped into Scotland's side rather than try and tackle the Magpie to protect the elbow he dislocated in May.

The suspension was Notting's first in his 87-game career and the Lions will miss his versatility against the Crows.

Fletcher was reported on video evidence because umpire Mathew James initially had his vision of the incident obscured by Hayden's team-mate Jeff Farmer.

James said he saw Fletcher collect Hayden high when he jumped into the Docker but could not say which part of Fletcher's body had made contact.

He said, after viewing the video, Fletcher had acted recklessly and made contact with Hayden's face with his arm.

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