North defender Michael Firrito is free to play against Carlton, after being cleared of illegal contact on the Lions' Ash McGrath.

The incident, in the fourth quarter of Saturday night's match saw McGrath knocked to the ground and Brisbane players remonstrating with both Firrito and team-mate Shaun Atley.

However, it was the view of the AFL's Match Review Panel that Firrito had not deviated from his initial line, and the contact deemed incidental.

The full findings were as follows:

Contact between North Melbourne’s Michael Firrito and the Brisbane Lions’ Ash McGrath from the fourth quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. The ball is kicked into the Brisbane forward line and Firrito runs toward the marking contest. McGrath is running in the opposite direction and turns into Firrito’s path and high contact is made. After viewing all available footage, it was the view of the panel that Firrito did not deviate from his initial line and there was no bumping action from the North Melbourne player. It was the view of the panel the high contact made was deemed to be accidental.