Port Adelaide's already teetering finals prospects will receive another blow if spearhead Jay Schulz is suspended for the tackle which felled opponent Ted Richards, while Richmond's Ivan Maric is also in danger of being sidelined.
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Schulz's tackle, which forced the removal of the Sydney defender from the ground on a stretcher after he hit his head on the turf, will be prominent in the match review panel's examination of round 14. So too will be the report laid against Maric for his elbow to the head of Jack Steele as he sought to prevent his GWS opponent being the third man up in the ruck contest he was part of.
If Maric's strike is deemed intentional, rather than careless, he would be sidelined for at least the Tigers' Friday night match against Carlton.
The tackle laid by Schulz was reminiscent of the one Bryce Gibbs served a two-match penalty for, in that his opponent's arms were pinned and their head hit the turf as they were brought to ground by the tackler.
Even though Richards was motionless after the incident there was no animosity from his Swans teammates towards Schulz, who immediately signalled for assistance for his stricken opponent.
If Schulz is charged with rough conduct he is likely to receive the same classification as Gibbs: careless, high impact and high contact, resulting in a three-match ban that could be cut to two with a guilty plea. That would rule him out of at least the Power's home match against Collingwood on Thursday night and the showdown with Adelaide in round 16.
Another Power player, Matthew Broadbent, is set to be slugged with a $1500 fine for a first offence for unreasonable to unnecessary contact to an injured player, over an incident which left Sydney coach John Longmire seething.
Swans midfielder Luke Parker was being approached by a club trainer for treatment after rising gingerly from a tackle when Broadbent bumped him. The trainer, who was standing on the other side of Parker, jumped backwards in response to Broadbent's bump.
If Broadbent was charged he would be the sixth player to be charged with the offence of contact to an injured player, and second this season after Richmond's Dylan Grimes' contact to Port Adelaide's Jackson Trengove in round eight. Grimes' fine was cut from $1500 to $1000 due to his guilty plea.
Sydney's Dan Hannebery could be scrutinised for forceful front-on contact to Schulz early in last Thursday's match but is likely to escape charge as he was bending down to pick up the ball when he made high contact with his hip and had no realistic alternative.
Collingwood's Jamie Elliott could be fined for a low-level incident in which he barged into the back of Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell. A classification of intentional, low impact and body contact would trigger a $1500 fine which could be cut to $1000.
Elliott's teammate Travis Varcoe could receive the same penalty after he was reported for forceful front-on contact to Cyril Rioli. The Hawks forward was bent over trying to collect the ball when Varcoe, making no attempt to grab the ball, clattered into him with his midriff. If the incident is graded careless, low impact and high contact he would escape suspension and instead be fined.
The chances of Maric's striking report being thrown out are set to be hindered by footage showing he took his focus off the ruck contest and instead towards his right, from where Steele was running in from. Maric raised his right elbow and made contact to Steele's head before returning his focus to the boundary throw-in.
The conduct grading will determine the ruckman's availability for Tigers, as classifications of high contact and low impact seem assured, the latter because Steele got up straight away. If careless, he will likely escape with a fine. If, however, it is intentional - because he was looking at Steele the whole time - it would trigger a two-match ban that could be cut to one.
Another key Tiger, Trent Cotchin, will be scrutinised for his late, high spoil on the Giants' Zac Williams. Even though the captain made contact with his inner arm to the head of Williams the panel could decide the 50-metre penalty paid against him on the night was sufficient punishment.
The other aspect match that will be scrutinised will be if GWS midfielder Toby Greene becomes only the third player since 1979 to be charged with spitting.
The incident occurred after Richmond's Anthony Miles drew a free-kick for high contact. As nearby Greene went to man the mark against his former Giants teammate he seemingly spat in his direction, albeit not with enough force to land on him.
The only players to be charged with spitting since 1979 were West Coast's Chris Lewis, who received a three-match ban in 1993, and St Kilda's Max Hudghton, who received a $2400 fine in 2006.
Current rules demand players charged with spitting for the first time are fined $2500, or $1500 with a guilty plea. But if the saliva lands on an opponent the player must be directly referred to the tribunal, as with anyone charged with spitting at or on an umpire.
MATCH REVIEW PANEL - ROUND 14 PREDICTIONS
Dan Hannebery (Syd) forceful front-on contact to Jay Schulz (PA). No charge; no alternative way to contest.
Jay Schulz (PA) rough conduct to Ted Richards (Syd). Careless, high impact, high contact. 3 matches; 2 with guilty plea.
Matthew Broadbent (PA) first offence unreasonable or unnecessary contact to injured player to Luke Parker (Syd). $1500 fine; $1000 with guilty plea.
Jamie Elliott (Coll) rough conduct to Sam Mitchell (Haw). Intentional, low impact, body contact. $1500 fine; $1000 with guilty plea.
Reported: Travis Varcoe (Coll) forceful front-on contact to Cyril Rioli (Haw). Careless, low impact, high contact. $1500 fine; $1000 with guilty plea.
Trent Cotchin (Rich) striking Zac Williams (GWS). No charge; 50-metre penalty was sufficient.
Reported: Ivan Maric (Rich) striking Jack Steele (GWS). Intentional, low impact, high contact. 2 matches; 1 with guilty plea.
Toby Greene (GWS) first offence spitting at Anthony Miles (Rich). $2500 fine; $1500 with guilty plea.
