Hawthorn have taken the lesser of two gambles and will be without star forward Lance Franklin for Friday night’s AFL qualifying final against Sydney.

As expected, the Hawks took the early plea on Franklin’s rough conduct charge.

They would have risked a two-game suspension by taking the case to a Tuesday night tribunal hearing.

It means the Hawks will be without one of their most important players for the start of the finals.

But one of the features of their impressive season has been a more varied attack, with teammate Jarryd Roughead winning his first Coleman Medal.

If Hawthorn beat Sydney, Franklin will return in a preliminary final.

He will be back for the semi-final if the Swans upset Hawthorn in Friday’s opening match of the finals series at the MCG.

Franklin will also have a significant carryover points total of 68.75 hanging over his head for the rest of the finals series.

He was booked during last week’s win over the Swans for high contact with Nick Malceski.

The taller Franklin was always in trouble because he collected Malceski’s head with the bump.

The tribunal was not required this week after all of the players charged during round 23 submitted early guilty pleas.

Essendon midfielder Jake Melksham will miss the Bombers’ first two matches of 2014 after pleading guilty to striking Richmond’s Daniel Jackson.

St Kilda star Leigh Montagna will miss one game next season after pleading guilty to striking Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley.

Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge and GWS midfielder Toby Green ($1950 each) and West Coast’s Matt Priddis and Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs (both $900) have all been fined for making contact with an umpire.

Brisbane defender Matt Maguire accepted a reprimand and 93.75 carryover points for striking Geelong’s Steve Johnson.

Melbourne’s Jordie McKenzie was fined $2700 for being the instigator of the halftime melee in Sunday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs.

Nine other players were fined $1200 apiece for being involved in the melee.