Essendon midfielder Mark McVeigh admits he has let the Bombers and their fans down by getting reported before the stretch which could decide the club's AFL finals destiny.

McVeigh was booked for striking Melbourne's Jared Rivers during a melee shortly before three-quarter time at Etihad Stadium on Friday night, when the Bombers led by 58 points.

Adding to the bad timing, the game was only McVeigh's third since overcoming an ankle injury, and came before a big month, when the Dons (eighth) play three sides vying to reach the finals - Carlton, Collingwood and Sydney.

"It's never nice to be reported," he said on Sunday.

"I'm most disappointed about letting my teammates down and the supporters because at this time I've missed a fair bit of footy through injury.

"I've got to go up and fight this and see how we go.

"We'll leave it to Monday, but I did the wrong thing and we'll see what happens."

Despite McVeigh's suggestion he might challenge the assessment handed down by the match review panel on Monday, the 180-game player admitted he had done the wrong thing.

"I've missed five to six weeks of football and I've let the side down and the supporters of the club ... it's not good enough," he told the Nine Network.

McVeigh has chalked up his share of minor indiscretions through his 11-season career - mainly for being involved in melees or wrestling opponents - but was confident the latest report would not harm his leadership aspirations.

"I've played for a long time and I feel that I haven't been rubbed out for too much (a total of two games previously)," he said.

"It's one of those things where we have a number of players who could captain our club when Matthew (Lloyd) eventually gives it away.

"I still think Matthew can do it again, but hopefully it doesn't hurt my chances if the time comes in the next few years."

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