WEST Coast forward Jack Darling says he would never bite an opponent on the field but has vouched for the character of teammate Chris Masten.
The AFL's Match Review Panel is investigating an incident between Masten and Dockers midfielder Nick Suban during Sunday's Western Derby.
Masten is accused of biting Suban in the third term during a one-on-one wrestle.
Darling said he would never bite an opponent on the field and said he was surprised at the accusations levelled at Masten.
"I wouldn't bite anyone on the footy field," Darling said on Monday.
"I reckon that would be pretty gross. Sweaty.
"It's a weird incident. I can't comment on it. But we'll just see what comes of it."
Darling spoke glowingly of Masten as a character and a teammate.
"As a character, he's great," Darling said.
"He's really stepped up the last couple of years. He's a great player, great to have around the club.
"He's just a funny man. He's a real team player."
The Eagles won a feisty Derby on Sunday to break a six-game losing streak against the Dockers and maintain second spot on the AFL ladder. Another big test awaits against fellow top-four aspirant the Western Bulldogs next Sunday.
The incident between Masten and Suban wasn't the only controversial incident during the match.
Dockers defender Alex Silvagni faces a lengthy suspension after elbowing Eagles forward Jamie Cripps in the jaw during the second quarter.
The Eagles suspect Cripps has a fractured jaw. He had scans on Monday but the club is not expected to confirm the extent of the damage until Tuesday.
Cripps returned to the field to play the rest of the match despite being in obvious discomfort.
"(It was a) great effort to come back on," Darling said.
"I don't think he was 100 per cent coming back on but it was really brave of him."
Watch the incident that saw Silvagni go into the umpires' book for striking #AFLFreoEagles http://t.co/XnhuB2tRF6
— AFL (@AFL) August 16, 2015
Darling said the players had an incredible amount of belief following their win on Sunday.
The Eagles won without Nic Naitanui, Mark LeCras and Jeremy McGovern and then lost Will Schofield to hamstring soreness halfway through the third term, while Cripps and Scott Lycett (knee) also played through pain.
"I've got lots of belief in the group," Darling said.
"Our game style now is good. It stands up pretty well against the better sides.
"(We have gained) lots of belief. Football's a real mental game. If you turn up, you can beat anybody. We've seen it happen a number of times."
The Eagles are set to regain LeCras from suspension for the clash with the Bulldogs and are hopeful Naitanui will play following the death of his mother, but they will make a decision on his availability later in the week.