PORT ADELAIDE forward Junior Rioli has been sent directly to the tribunal over an incident in the club’s win over Essendon on Sunday.

The Match Review Officer cited Rioli for striking Essendon’s Jordan Ridley in the second quarter of the five-point win.

Ridley was subbed out of the game with the Bombers later confirming he had been concussed.

The MRO has assessed the incident as careless conduct with severe impact and high contact. 

The initial suggested penalty is a suspension for three or more games, which means Rioli is unable to enter an early guilty plea and will have to face the tribunal on Tuesday evening. Rioli’s teammate Connor Rozee was also fined $4000 for a third offence of making careless contact with an umpire. With an early plea the fine will be reduced to $2500.