Hawthorn's Changkuoth Jiath could be in line for a headbutting charge by the AFL's Match Review Officer following an incident in the opening half of Saturday's game against Adelaide.
Jiath was one of several players involved in a mild quarrel during the second term of the match following a free kick awarded to teammate Jack Ginnivan.
Hawthorn and Adelaide players looked to potentially instigate a scuffle as Jiath stepped between Ginnivan and Crows defender Mark Keane, only for Mitch Hinge to then come to the defence of his teammate.
As Ginnivan went back to ready himself for a set shot on goal. Jiath gave away a costly reversal free kick for headbutting.
The officiating umpire could be heard penalising Jiath for a headbutt and placed the Hawks defender on report, with Jiath looking to have made high contact on Hinge.
Changkuoth Jiath has been reported following this incident involving Mitchell Hinge.#AFLHawksCrows pic.twitter.com/sSDKfN5DhL
— AFL (@AFL) June 1, 2024
The actions of Jiath will likely garner the attention of the MRO, who could hand down a charge of 'headbutting or contact using head'.
If the level of impact is not seen as negligible, then Jiath could earn a suspension, or at the very least a fine.
It can be expected that Jiath's actions are seen as intentional however, given the incident took place away from play, meaning a suspension is more likely.
Matched with 'high' contact and a 'low' impact, an intentional conduct grading would mean Jiath is hit with a one-game suspension.
It would take the level of conduct to be graded as 'careless' for Jiath to come away with a fine.
The Hawks are scheduled to face GWS next week in Launceston before a Round 14 game against Richmond at the MCG in a fortnight's time.
The MRO will hand down their findings from Saturday's matches on Sunday evening.
