Essendon have been hit with a significant midfield blow ahead of their trip west to face Fremantle later this month, with Sam Durham copping a two-match suspension.

Durham’s bump on Carlton’s Adam Cerra was assessed by the Match Review Officer as forceful front-on contact, with the incident graded as careless with high contact and high impact.

It resulted in a two-match ban, meaning Durham will miss the Bombers’ home clash with Geelong on Saturday and next week’s trip to WA to face the Dockers if the club doesn’t successfully appeal the decision.

Cerra was assessed for concussion in the second quarter of Sunday’s game before ultimately playing out the second half in the Blues’ eight-point win.

Durham is an important midfield cog for the Bombers. The 23-year-old is the club’s leading clearance and contested ball winner this season, and ranks in the team’s top four for tackles and inside-50s.

The midfield tough nut finished third in last year’s Crichton Medal for Essendon’s best-and-fairest, a campaign that included a starring role in the Bombers’ round 21 win over Freo - booting the winning point - that triggered the Dockers’ late-season stumble.

In other Match Review news, West Coast youngster Elijah Hewett can accept a $1500 fine for his first offence of making careless contact with an umpire following an incident in the second term of Sunday’s loss in Bunbury.

North Melbourne’s Luke McDonald was hit with a $3000 for tripping Eagles forward Liam Ryan.