Sydney co-captain Brett Kirk will front the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night after being charged with making reckless contact with an umpire.

The referral directly to the tribunal follows a warning issued to clubs by the league before the start of the season that rules against umpire contact would be strictly enforced.

The strict interpretation means Kirk can be penalised entirely at the tribunal's discretion, including the possibility of suspension, rather than have the option of pleading guilty and accepting a set penalty.

Kirk made contact with umpire Mathew James during the second quarter of Saturday night's win over Hawthorn at ANZ Stadium.

Essendon's Adam McPhee faces a two-game suspension after being charged with striking Fremantle's Scott Thornton during the first quarter of Sunday's match at Etihad Stadium.

McPhee's previous poor tribunal record counted against him, costing him a percentage penalty increase along with carryover points, without which he could have accepted a one-game ban.

Port Adelaide's Daniel Motlop was also hurt by his prior record, after being charged with striking West Coast's Adam Hunter at Subiaco on Sunday.

A penalty loading for Motlop means he will be suspended for one game regardless of whether he gains a penalty reduction for an early guilty plea or fights the charge at the tribunal and loses.

Three players can accept reprimands if they plead guilty to lower grade charges.

Richmond's Jake King has been booked for rough conduct against Geelong's Steve Johnson, North Melbourne's Michael Firrito for striking Western Bulldogs' captain Brad Johnson and the Bulldogs' Jason Akermanis for making forceful front-on contact to North's Scott Thompson.

Brisbane's Luke Power and Essendon's Angus Monfries both face fines for making negligent contact with an umpire.

Brisbane skipper Jonathan Brown was cleared of a match-day report of rough conduct against Carlton's Marc Murphy.

Collingwood's Heath Shaw was also cleared over a rough conduct report for an incident involving Melbourne's Jared Rivers.

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