Hall free to play

The battling Western Bulldogs have had a win with the match review panel deciding not to charge forward Barry Hall with striking Collingwood's Harry O'Brien.

Hall, who was earlier this year fined for placing a head-lock on North Melbourne full-back Scott Thompson, came under scrutiny following an incident in the third quarter of the Magpies' 62-point qualifying final win at the MCG.

But after reviewing the contact Hall made to O'Brien's upper chest on video, talking to the nearest umpire and receiving a medical report from Collingwood, the match review panel decided that the force of the blow was 'below that required to constitute a reportable offence'.

Hall did not escape penalty completely though with his match-day report for using abusive language towards umpire Matthew Nicholls resulting in him facing a $2600 fine that can be reduced to $1950 with an early guilty plea.

Smashed last weekend by the Magpies, the Bulldogs will be desperate to atone when they clash with the Swans on Saturday night and could not afford to lose Hall for the cut-throat battle.

Meanwhile Hawthorn midfielder Shaun Burgoyne may be forced to sit out the opening match of the 2011 season after being charged with a level one engaging in rough play offence for a clash with Fremantle's Alex Silvagni in the second quarter of Saturday's elimination final at Subiaco Oval.

The Hawks' campaign may be over after they went down by 30 points to the Dockers but Burgoyne will have to wait until Round 2 for a start next year with previous indiscretions meaning his charge can't be reduced to a reprimand with a guilty plea.

The former Power star has been suspended for three matches in the previous three years meaning the 125 base points are increased by 30 percent to 162.50 points, with an early guilty plea to reduce that to 121.88 points.