Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd's AFL season is over after he was suspended for four games for rough conduct over his bump on Hawthorn's Brad Sewell.

The Bombers had the option of challenging the match review panel's assessment of the incident at the MCG last Saturday, but chose not to, as he pleaded guilty.

Lloyd's suspension means he will not play again this season, even if the Bombers reach the grand final.

There is also a chance Lloyd, aged 31 and a veteran of 270 games, has played his last game, as he is yet to commit on his playing future in 2010.

Essendon snuck into the finals through their win over Hawthorn, and play Adelaide in Friday night's elimination final at AAMI Stadium.

The Bombers will also be without stand-in ruckman Paddy Ryder, who was suspended for one game for striking Hawthorn's Luke Hodge.

All 22 players cited by the panel pleaded guilty and accepted the penalties offered them, which means the tribunal will not sit on Tuesday night.

In a further blow for the Bombers, midfielder Sam Lonergan will also miss the clash with the Crows, as he was also suspended for one game for striking Hodge.

Lloyd's shirtfront on Sewell, early in the third quarter, sparked a wild melee between the sides, which resulted in 10 players - five from each side - being fined.

Hodge and Hawthorn teammates Michael Osborne, Brent Renouf, Grant Birchall and Campbell Brown, and Ryder and fellow Bombers Nathan Lovett-Murray, Adam McPhee, Michael Hurley and Dustin Fletcher were fined $1,200 each for engaging in a melee.

Hawthorn's Chance Bateman will start the 2010 season late because of a one-game suspension for striking Lloyd, in a separate incident.

North Melbourne forward Drew Petrie and Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin will also have delayed starts next year, for striking incidents from last Saturday night's game at AAMI Stadium.

Petrie was suspended for two games for striking Port backman Alipate Carlile and Chaplin was suspended for one game for striking Kangaroos midfielder Andrew Swallow.

Fremantle's Matthew De Boer accepted a reprimand for striking Geelong ruckman Mark Blake at Skilled Stadium last Saturday.

Port's Kane Cornes was fined $900 for using abusive language towards an umpire after the final siren at AAMI Stadium.

Four players were also fined for making contact with an umpire.

Melbourne's Nathan Jones was docked $2,850 and Richmond's Jack Riewoldt, West Coast's Andrew Embley and Carlton's Shaun Hampson were all fined $1,950 each.

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