AFTER choosing to accept Lance Franklin’s one-week suspension for rough conduct, Hawthorn has revealed it “would have lived” to have challenged the ban.

Franklin was reported on Friday night by one of the officiating umpires after a high bump on Sydney defender Nick Malceski and subsequently offered a one-week sanction by the Match Review Panel on Monday.

The Hawks had until 11am on Tuesday to accept or challenge the ban, which will keep the star forward out of Friday night’s Qualifying Final but deemed it too big a risk during finals.

Franklin would have had his one-week suspension increased to two matches had he challenged and failed at the AFL Tribunal, given the incident was assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points).

It was classified as a level two offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction that could be reduced by 25 per cent with an early plea.

Head of Coaching and Development and current interim General Manager – Football Operations, Chris Fagan revealed the Club and Franklin would have liked to challenge the medium impact grading.

“It was a difficult one because we would have liked to have gone to the tribunal and perhaps challenge the medium impact grading,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“I think our fans would appreciate at this time of year, we didn’t feel like we were 100 per cent certain of winning that challenge and given that it’s a difference of him being out one week or two weeks, we thought that was too big a risk to take.

“Lance was consulted in that process and felt the same way.”

Fagan said the Hawks hold no fears of heading into the first final without their star forward, who has kicked 58 goals this season.

Of the last 13 matches played without the 26 year old, the Hawks have won 12 of those, with Coleman Medallist Jarryd Roughead (68 goals), Luke Breust (37) and Jack Gunston (35) all capable of kicking goals.

“We’ve become a pretty resilient team like that in the last couple of years – Lance has missed a lot of games,” Fagan said.

“We’ve got a good record when he doesn’t play, sure we’d like him in the team rather than not have him there but we’re not frightened about the idea of playing without him.”