Essendon midfielder Mark Mercuri was suspended for two matches by the VFL Tribunal.

After being dropped from the senior side last week, the dual AFL premiership star was reported on video evidence for striking Geelong's Brent Moloney while playing for the Bendigo Bombers.

Mercuri pleaded not guilty, claiming the contact to the back of Moloney's head was the result of a push.

But the tribunal found him guilty of striking and banned him for two matches.

Essendon will decide whether to lodge an appeal on behalf of Mercuri, whose previous tribunal visit was back in 1996.

The 29-year has kicked only five goals in 10 AFL matches this year.

The two-match ban will make it much harder for Mercuri to force his way back into the AFL side as the Bombers push for a finals berth.

Moloney - who is on Geelong's senior list but has yet to make his AFL debut - was also banned for two weeks for striking Essendon's Cory McGrath in a separate incident.

In other news, Essendon full forward Matthew Lloyd shrugged off most doubts about his fitness by completing training ahead of Friday night's clash with St Kilda.

Lloyd received two blows to the head in last week's win over Geelong, necessitating examination by the team doctor as a `mouse' swelled up around his right eye socket.

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