Richmond ruckman Tyrone Vickery’s case has been referred directly to the AFL’s tribunal by the match-review panel.

Vickery is facing a lengthy suspension after hitting West Coast’s Dean Cox in the jaw with a crude roundhouse blow during Richmond’s 17-point win on Friday night.

Cox, who was knocked out, has little memory of the game and none of the incident itself.

Vickery, who issued a public apology to Cox on Sunday and also telephoned the Eagles’ big man, does not have the option of accepting an early plea.

After receiving a medical report from West Coast and viewing video evidence, the AFL’s match review panel assessed the incident as intentional conduct (three points), severe impact (four points) and high contact (two points).

The total of nine points triggers a direct referral to the tribunal.

Vickery has 43.75 carryover points and was suspended for two matches earlier this season for striking North Melbourne’s Michael Firrito.

The panel also assessed an incident which occurred seconds before Cox was felled.

“Cox throws his arm back and makes contact to Vickery,” the panel said in a statement.

The panel said the force of the blow was deemed below that required for a reportable offence.

West Coast’s Luke Shuey and Mark LeCras have been offered $900 fines for engaging in misconduct against Vickery during the second quarter of Friday’s match at Patersons Stadium.

Sydney’s Jeremy Laidler has been charged with striking Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston during the third quarter of Saturday night’s game at the MCG. Laidler can accept a reprimand and 70.31 carryover points.

Match-day reports against Richmond’s Brandon Ellis for engaging in rough conduct against West Coast’s Patrick McGinnity and Collingwood’s Clinton Young for striking Adelaide’s Brodie Smith have been withdrawn because the force used was below that required to constitute a reportable offence.