RICHMOND defender Jake King could miss the opening round of the season after the AFL’s match review panel charged him despite no umpire reporting him on the day and no video footage clearly showing the incident.

King faces a two-match ban for striking Collingwood forward Travis Cloke during the NAB Challenge match at Visy Park on Friday.

The suspension would also cover this weekend's NAB Challenge match against Essendon.

Cloke’s account of the incident is likely to have played a major part in King being charged, with the Magpie forward among those quizzed in a match review panel investigation into the incident in recent days.

King’s existing bad record and carry-over points mean that he cannot accept a lesser penalty with an early guilty plea.

He must fight the charge at the AFL Tribunal should he wish to be available for the Tigers’ round one clash against Carlton on March 25.

King wasn’t reported during Friday’s clash and there was insufficient video footage for the Match Review Panel to lay a report. Newspaper photos on Saturday showed the pair grappling on the ground.

King was the only player booked from weekend matches.

King’s charge:
The incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). This is a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a level three offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of two matches suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty by 20 per cent to 250 points. He also has 39.06 points carried over from within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 309.06 points and a three-match sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to 231.80 points and a two-match sanction