CHRISTIAN Salem has accepted a one-match suspension from the match review panel and will miss Melbourne’s clash against the Gold Coast Suns at TIO Traeger Park on Saturday.

Salem was charged with striking North Melbourne’s Shaun Higgins.

The incident happened during the second quarter of Melbourne’s 14-point loss to the Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday.

Salem was offered a one-match sanction with an early plea.

Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from North Melbourne, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct with low impact to the head.

The incident was classified as a two-match sanction, but Salem had no applicable record, which impacted the penalty.

An early plea enabled Salem to accept a one-match sanction.