Jake Carlisle has dodged a bullet and has been cleared to play in the season opener against North Melbourne next Friday.

The key position player was booked for kneeing Richmond defender Steve Morris during Friday's practice match, but has no case to answer after the match review panel decided the force used was below that required for a report.

Carlisle was reported on the day by umpire Shane Stewart, who was wearing a GoPro camera attached to his chest for a media outlet.

However the Age’s Emma Quayle suggested the footage was ‘not particularly helpful’ and the decision to throw the charge out was based on Stewart's evidence and a medical report on Morris.

Carlisle’s availability is a massive bonus for Essendon which is already set to be without several key players including Jake Melksham, Michael Hibberd, Tom Bellchambers, Alex Browne and Jason Winderlich.

Nick Kommer is also under an injury cloud.