Gary Ablett remains runaway favourite for the Brownlow Medal, with the Gold Coast captain cleared by the AFL match review panel for his elbow on Liam Picken.

Ablett lashed out at the Western Bulldogs tagger in Sunday’s match at Metricon Stadium, but the panel ruled the contact was below the force that required a report.

Replays proved inconclusive as to whether he struck Picken’s face or chest.

Ablett’s sensational form has him on pace to win a third Brownlow, becoming just the fifth man to do so.

Bookmakers had suspended markets as they waited for the panel’s verdict on Monday.

Ablett would have become ineligible for the league’s most prestigious honour if he were slapped with any penalty above 100 demerit points.

Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge and Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney were also cleared over contentious collisions in round 10.

Hodge’s bump on Chad Wingard was found to be below the force required for a report, while the match-day report levelled at Cooney for making contact with Ablett’s head was thrown out.

“It was the view of the panel that Cooney was contesting the ball and had no realistic alternative way to contest the ball,” the panel said in a statement.

Port Adelaide’s Hamish Hartlett was given a one-match ban for striking Bradley Hill, with his poor record meaning the penalty will stand even if he logs an early plea.

GWS forward Jeremy Cameron and Collingwood’s Jarryd Blair were charged for striking, but both can escape suspension with an early plea.

Clay Smith was given a two-week ban for engaging in rough conduct against Luke Russell, but the Bulldogs’ young gun can have it reduced to one match with an early plea.

Gold Coast forward Tom Lynch and Cameron were both fined for minor incidents.