Geelong midfielder Patrick Dangerfield is facing a nervous wait from the Match Review Officer following a bump that left Adelaide defender Jake Kelly with a concussion.
Kelly was carted off the field after a collision of heads with Dangerfield, with the incident now placing the 2016 Brownlow Medal winner in hot water.
With Kelly in possession, Dangerfield looked to impact play before bracing for a bump as Kelly released a handball.
Geelong coach Chris Scott came to Dangerfield's defence in the post match press conference that followed the Cats' shock loss to last year's wooden spooners.
“My take was when you’ve got two players running full-speed at each other, and one player kicks the ball just before contact, then the player should do everything you can not to hurt the other player,” Scott said, per The Herald Sun.
“Don’t jump off the ground, don’t raise your arms, you can’t tackle him ... sometimes players run into each other and there’s a head clash. I don’t think he intended to headbutt him, that’s for sure.
“To my eye, it looked like he (Dangerfield) was doing everything he could to protect himself and the other player.
“It’s a game we play – two guys running at that speed straight at each other. Collisions happen.”
Meanwhile, Brisbane star recruit Joe Daniher is also facing scrutiny for his high strike on Sydney defender Dane Rampe.
Daniher was placed on report during the first quarter of the Lions' loss to the Swans on Saturday night after elbowing Rampe in the face.
Fox Sports analyst Alastair Lynch compared the incident to Richmond defender David Astbury's strike on Carlton's Lachie Plowman earlier this round.
Astbury was reported for a similar altercation but was only fined $2,000 by the MRO.
"It didn't look great live and I think we all understand that once you hit the head you're going to be in a fair bit of strife," Lynch said.
"So understandable that he was reported.
"But we can compare it to the incident that happened on Thursday night with David Astbury. In this incident on Lachie Plowman ... David Astbury was reported and received a fine.
"And I think looking live, the contact by Daniher wasn't as severe. I think he's probably lucky that Dane Rampe's head was so close to his arm. It became more of a push.
"So going with the Thursday night incident as a bit of a pre-cursor, I would think a fine at best. I don't think he's any chance of getting suspended with that one."
In Saturday night's other affair, Hawthorn came from 39 points down at half-time to end the final term victors by one point over Essendon.
In what has added insult to the Bombers' frustrating start to the season, rookie wingman Nik Cox was reported for a high hit on Hawk Oliver Hanrahan.
On debut, Cox charged into Hanrahan who was placed over the football and was collected high by the 200cm swingman.
Hanrahan was able to continue in the match, booting a goal from a 50m penalty that was handed shortly after the Cox incident.
Match Review Officer Michael Christian is set to release his verdict in the three incidents in the next 24 hours.
