WHILE the Match Review Panel will surely look at Patrick Dangerfield's knee to Jarryn Geary's head when it sits on Monday, it is safe to declare the Geelong superstar's Brownlow Medal hopes are intact.
Dangerfield is the runaway favourite for this year's Brownlow Medal and there is some angst that his chances could be dashed by a charge of kneeing if the MRP looks dimly on his actions against Geary.
It would be the shock of the season, however, for the Panel to lay a charge heavy enough to rule Dangerfield out of contention.
To suspend Dangerfield for one match the MRP would need to grade Dangerfield's kneeing action in one of two ways – careless with medium impact to the head, or intentional with low or medium impact to the head.
The more likely outcome is that the MRP throws the charge out because there was either insufficient force to constitute a charge or Dangerfield's actions were accidental and did not breach his duty of care to Geary.
On Sunday afternoon, Dangerfield was adamant he would have no case to answer, describing his contact to Geary's head "insufficient".
"From my perspective, it is," Dangerfield told Channel Nine when asked whether the incident was "a beat up".
"It's hard to get up when someone is grabbing your leg and from my perspective, the contact was very much insufficient.
"I'm not worried about it simply because I really don't think there's anything in it at all."
The case for Dangerfield is easy to make when you analyse vision of the incident.
The star midfielder has handballed to a teammate as he is being tackled to ground by Geary, and he then attempts to spring to his feet quickly while keeping an eye on play up the field.
Geary, who is still lying on the ground, keeps his arms wrapped around Dangerfield's right leg, prompting the Cat to pull his leg free – the point at which contact to Geary's head is made.
Patrick Dangerfield might be in hot water following this incident. #AFLSaintsCats https://t.co/VdeDNaEM0e
— AFL (@AFL) June 25, 2016
It is too far a stretch for the MRP to deem Dangerfield has "intentionally" jabbed his knee into Geary's head when the star midfielder is clearly trying to get his leg free and move to the next contest.
It is more feasible – although still a stretch – for the MRP to say his actions were careless in the circumstances.
On the question of impact, the MRP will consult a St Kilda medical report and watch behind-the-goal vision to trace Geary's actions after the incident.
If the MRP does deem there is sufficient force, a grading of low impact would appear most likely, resulting in a $1000 fine and a first 'strike' when paired with careless conduct.
Given that would also be Dangerfield's first MRP charge in 168 games – apart from negligent umpire contact in 2012 – it is unlikely we'll see the midfielder registering a second and third strike in his last eight games this season.