The AFL has confirmed that Tristan Xerri will be referred directly to the tribunal after appearing to smear his own blood on Essendon captain Andy McGrath's face on Saturday night.
He will face a serious misconduct charge, with the tribunal having the discretion to sanction him as they see fit.
"It's something that we don't want to see," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Sunday.
"That's been assessed by the Match Review Officer and it will go directly to the Tribunal, and that will either be heard on Monday or Tuesday night.
"It's not something we want to see on our fields."
Industry sentiment on Sunday was that he should receive a ban in the vicinity of four weeks.
“Should they have put him up last night, North Melbourne and got on the front foot,” Matthew Lloyd asked on the Sunday Footy Show.
“(He could've said) ‘hey, I've made a horrible mistake, I put myself out there to whatever comes my way. I kept watching and watching and saw all these players get put up and I was waiting for them to get on the front foot and they didn't.
“Minimum two and I wouldn't be shocked if he got three or four.
“He's made a massive mistake and I'm sure he's a good person, he'll pay the price for it and move on.”
Across that period, the Kangaroos face Carlton, Brisbane, Richmond and GWS.
Saturday night's relieving ruck, Callum Coleman-Jones appears Xerri's most obvious replacement, with assistance from Cooper Trembath, with Taylor Goard sidelined with an ankle injury.
