Melbourne forward Jeremy Howe has been sent directly to the AFL tribunal over a charge of wiping his blood on an opponent’s shorts.

Howe cannot make an early guilty plea, and must front the tribunal over the unusual offence.

The match review panel has charged Howe with wiping blood from his knee on Port Adelaide player Tom Jonas’ shorts in the Demons loss to Port in Darwin at the weekend.

Geelong defender Matthew Scarlett has been offered a one-match ban for striking Essendon’s Corey Dell’Olio.

If he accepts the suspension, he will miss the Cats’ clash with Adelaide at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.