MELBOURNE spearhead Jesse Hogan was scrutinised for staging in the wake of an incident with St Kilda's Jake Carlisle on Sunday, but escaped sanction after a lengthy deliberation by Match Review Officer Michael Christian. 

Hogan went to ground during the third quarter of Melbourne's 39-point win at Etihad Stadium after Carlisle pushed him in the goalsquare following a Melbourne behind.

The Demon received a free kick from umpire Shane McInerney, who was just five metres away at the time, but missed the shot from almost point-blank range.

FULL STATEMENT: Match Review Officer's verdict

On the broadcaster's initial vision, it appeared there was a delay between Carlisle's push and Hogan falling to the ground. 

However, in making his decision, Christian also had access to behind-the-goal vision, which showed Carlisle hitting Hogan with an open hand to the throat and the Demon falling down almost immediately.

Mahoney said Hogan was unfairly treated.

"I think the reaction's been excessive," Mahoney said.  

"You can consider the vision that was made available, you can understand, maybe, people's reactions. But I think in light of the vision that's come out more recently, people can say that they probably hung Jesse out to dry over the last 24 hours.

"There was certainly something in the incident."


Christian said there was a lot to take into account.

"It was certainly a long discussion point, but in the end (I) felt that there was sufficient contact (from Carlisle)," Christian said.

"The actions from Hogan in going down and getting straight back up were not warranted in the situation necessarily, but certainly there was enough contact to suggest that he may have gone to ground.

"It's a great balancing act because, at the end of the day, was it forceful enough to constitute a charge?  

"It fell in between a charge against Carlisle and staging on behalf of Hogan."

Christian said McInerney had been correct in paying a free kick against Carlisle, but the Saint's action had not warranted a sanction given it was more a pushing motion than a strike. 

When a reporter suggested Carlisle's push had appeared no stronger than a "feather touch", Christian reiterated his finding that the Saints defender had used sufficient force to send Hogan to the ground.

"It caught Hogan a little bit off-guard and so he went down," he said.

"But he didn't roll on the ground. The provisions around staging are that you must excessively exaggerate a situation, so we didn't feel like he excessively exaggerated the situation given the high contact."