Reigning AFLW best and fairest Kiara Bowers has been handed a two-game ban by the Match Review Office following her off the ball hit on Bulldogs midfielder Kirsty Lamb on Tuesday night.
While the broadcast of the Dockers' six-point win at the Whitten Oval failed to show the midfielder making contact with her opponent, Lamb was seen holding her jaw following the hit before coming to the bench in the final term.
Although those at home were unaware that the three-time All Australian had been the instigator of contact, any doubt was alleviated on Wednesday afternoon when footage of Bowers colliding with Lamb was tweeted by AFL Media's Sarah Black.
Vision of Bowersโ bump on Lamb which has come under MRO scrutiny for rough conduct: pic.twitter.com/s0sVDyzxDh
— Sarah Black (@_sjblack) February 2, 2022
After coming under the scrutiny of the MRO, Bower can accept a two-match suspension after being charged for Rough Conduct. The incident was graded as intentional, medium impact and high contact.
With Trent Cooper's side currently sitting atop the table at 5-0, the purple-clad club are seen by the masses as a genuine premiership threat.
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Bowers will be sidelined for her side's upcoming clashes against the Kangaroos and Blues should she accept the MRO's grading.
Having collected an average of 22.6 disposals and a mammoth mean of 10.6 tackles across her opening five outings this season, the Coastal Titans product was seen as the red-hot favourite to win MVP honours again this season.
The suspension will also mean Bowers will become ineligible for the AFLW best and fairest prize - a move in line with the male competition.