KOBY Stevens doesn't want to see Nat Fyfe suspended for what he says was probably an accidental trip on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.
Fremantle's Brownlow Medal favourite was reported by umpire Matt Stevic for tripping Stevens in the third quarter of the Dockers' 13-point win.
Fyfe landed on the turf in front of him in the Bulldogs' defensive pocket four and a half minutes before three-quarter time and upended Stevens with his legs.
Fyfe, who led the AFLCA champion player of the year voting and was medal favourite with the bookmakers heading into round seven, must now wait until Monday to see if the offence warrants a fine or suspension.
"I don't want a bloke like that to be suspended for something like that," Stevens told AFL.com.au after the game.
"He's such a great player and there were times out there today you were just wowed by what he could do.
"He's a very good player, so hopefully he doesn't get suspended for it.
"It just happens and it's accidental. I wouldn't think Fyfey would do that on purpose."
Fyfe was best on ground in the Dockers' seventh-straight win for the season with 30 disposals – 20 contested – 10 clearances and three goals.
Nat Fyfe has been reported for tripping #AFLDogsFreo http://t.co/qFtO61V6JV
— AFL (@AFL) May 17, 2015
Saving him from potential suspension and ineligibility for the Brownlow could be changes to the match review panel's grading system that came in this season.
If the trip is considered to be low impact to the body, he faces a fine and no suspension, which would leave him free to win football's greatest individual honour.
Charges that attract a fine are not affected by a player's poor record.
Stevens said he couldn't remember too much about the incident: "I just remember trying to baulk him and go the other way and the next minute I was on the ground.
"There's not much I can say about it.
"I wasn't really concentrating on him, like I said, I was just trying to go out the other side and I just got hit but I wasn't sure I got tripped, it was more just a hit when I just went the other way.
"But it was probably accidental - he's not the sort of bloke who plays with malice and that sort of stuff."