Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston could find himself in hot water with the Match Review Officer (MRO) after physically imposing himself on Adelaide forward Izak Rankine, causing the stretcher to enter the field.
As Rankine was going for the ball in the third term, Houston opted to bump the Crow right down the middle, resulting in a medical cart carrying him from the ground.
It is understood that the crafty forward suffered a concussion, leaving no doubt that the MRO will stand in given the incident.
Izak Rankine was helped off the ground following this incident involving Dan Houston.#AFLPowerCrows pic.twitter.com/wIB9dx5yXD
— AFL (@AFL) August 17, 2024
The high contact and damage inflicted on Rankine could see Houston miss multiple weeks as a Port Adelaide finals series looms.
Power coach Ken Hinkley responded in the post-match press conference.
"Once he cools down there'll be a moment," Hinkley said.
"He's a really fair player, he's an outstanding person.
"Anyone who's been involved in those type of situations I'm sure ... they know what's going on. They feel the consequence of what's happened.
"He'll wait and see what's delivered to him and he'll move on from there.
"He's a really, really good person. I can't say it enough. And I know people will sit there and go, 'I don't care whether he's a really, really good person'.
"I do. I care about him. He's a fantastic bloke."
However, Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks opted to engage in discussion about his injured player, keeping his answers short.
"His health and welfare's the priority for us now," Nicks said.
"He's just making sure he's OK, and he is. He's up and about but we'll keep a close eye on him."
Houston has recently been linked with a move back home to Victoria despite being contracted until the end of 2027 at Alberton.
Port Adelaide have kept their top-four hopes alive after knocking off the Crows, with one round remaining in the home and away season.