AFL great Leigh Matthews says he would be surprised if North Melbourne skipper Jack Ziebell was not suspended for the heavy hit that left an injured Travis Cloke facing up to six weeks on the sidelines.
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Cloke, in his 250th game, was sent to hospital after the Dogs' three-point win on Friday night after Ziebell's elevated bump had the Bulldogs' forward in pain with broken ribs.
Cloke, who had just kicked the ball to teammate Tom Liberatore when he was hurt, immediately left the field late in the game struggling to breathe.
Ziebell wasn't reported and a free kick down the field wasn't paid but the incident will be scrutinised by the match review panel on Monday.
Matthews, known for his unflinching play during his grand career, said Ziebell would face a penalty.
"When you are approaching a guy who is about to kick the ball, the idea is normally you are trying to smother the kick but Jack Ziebell didn't try and smother the kick," he said on 3AW.
"He just drove his shoulder basically into the rib cage of Travis Cloke. It was marginally after the ball was kicked so you would think to yourself: 'Was the bump necessary?'
"That's where it starts - if the bump is deemed that it wasn't necessary to bump. You don't normally bump when the bloke has the ball, you bump when he hasn't got the ball because you can't tackle him."
The Dogs declared on Saturday that Cloke will be sidelined for at least four to six weeks.
The Bulldogs' medical report could count against Ziebell.
"If it's accidental, there is no case to answer. If it deemed to be careless, then the next thing is - where was the contact? Well, the contact was to the body, not to the head. So, it's a lower penalty," Matthews said.
"But if it's classified as careless, they (MRP) will do the calculation, and it's severe impact - that goes without saying. I would be surprised if in fact he doesn't get a week or two."
The winless Kangaroos face a new-look Fremantle at Domain Stadium on Saturday night.
The Dogs have a growing injury list but ruckman Tom Boyd could yet line up in Bob Murphy's 300th game, against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday.
Boyd collided with Scott Thompson in the first term and immediately left the field. He does not have a fractured eye-socket but will be tested this week having suffered delayed concussion.
The Dogs also have issues with forward Stewart Crameri, who left the field in Friday's VFL clash against the Box Hill Hawks nursing a hip complaint.
