North Melbourne ruckman Tristan Xerri is expected to serve a lengthy stint on the sidelines after being charged with serious misconduct for an incident with Essendon captain Andrew McGrath on Saturday night.
The ruckman will face the AFL Tribunal on Monday after appearing to wipe blood on McGrath's face, and Six Points' Mark Stevens believes it could be a quick hearing.
“Well, serious misconduct always goes straight to the Tribunal," Stevens said.
“Tribunals tend to be too slow, turgid affairs, and they fiddle around, but tonight should be fairly quick.
“What Xerri did was totally out of line."
Daniel Harford described the incident as a "massive brain fade"
“It was a disastrous situation, and he's going to get a fairly significant suspension for it," Harford said
“To get to the next point, where you actually decide to wipe that on someone's face is extraordinary, what a massive brain fade.
“He's going to get weeks, it's just a matter of how many."
Stevens believes Xerri should serve at least four weeks for the act.
"I think the best case would be three (weeks). Worst case six," Stevens said.
“Izak Rankine got four for the homophobic slur, which was terrible, but I would have this four plus.
"If you line it up with the Rankine case, this one, for me, is worse."
The incident adds a blemish to the Kangaroos' start to the season, having won two out of their first three matches, giving some hope to fans.
The Kangaroos will face off against Carlton, Brisbane and Richmond in the next three weeks, a period they are likely to be without Xerri.
