Daniel Merrett will be free to confront Adelaide this Sunday at the Gabba after escaping sanction from the AFL Match Review Panel.

Merrett was booked for striking Melbourne’s Cameron Pederson during the final quarter of Brisbane’s 23-point win over the Demons.

The MRP viewed Merrett’s action as a legitimate attempt to spoil, with the accidental high contact deemed part of the spoiling motion.

Merrett’s match-day report was thrown out with no further action taken.

The decision means that the Lions will not be forced to find a replacement for the 29-year-old, who has played up forward in recent weeks in the absence of retired champion Jonathan Brown.