THE INCIDENT that saw Will Minson reported for allegedly pushing a VFL umpire is "laughable" and should be thrown out by the Tribunal, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says.
Minson will face the VFL Tribunal on Tuesday night after being red-carded shortly before half-time in Footscray's big win over North Ballarat at Whitten Oval on Sunday.
He was celebrating after kicking what he believed was a goal, when the field umpire told him it had been touched.
The 30-year-old made contact with the umpire, and was sent from the field.
Beveridge, who was at the game played ahead of Sunday's Melbourne-Bulldogs clash at the MCG, said Minson told him what happened.
Click here to watch Luke Beveridge's full media conference
He has also viewed the vision, which is expected to be used in the hearing, and said he expected the hearing to be brief.
"It's disappointing. It's pretty laughable, really," Beveridge said after the Bulldogs' 39-point loss.
"It would stagger me if anything happened in regards to it.
"Something has gone drastically wrong if it's not thrown out straight away.
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"Over the course of my career I patted umpires on the back, I talked to them with my hand on their shoulder and there's always a rapport between players and umpires and I think this one just took it the wrong way.
"As he went past, Will just touched him, really, as he went past. There's nothing in it so I'm not really sure why the reaction was what it was.
"It's really disappointing because Will was terrific up to that point today at VFL level. That obviously changed his day."
VFL procedures dictate the awarding of a red card for any incident that involves umpire contact.
"It's a rare occurrence … but basically umpires are off limits, so it gets dealt with straight away," AFL Victoria communications manager Anthony Stanguts told AFL.com.au on Sunday afternoon.
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Minson now faces the possibility of suspension from the VFL, where he has been playing since round four.
Beveridge has employed a "ruck by committee" structure recently rather than use the veteran big man.
Ayce Cordy has been given the brunt of the ruck responsibility, with Beveridge preferring his mobility around the ground when paired with back-up options Tom Boyd and Jordan Roughead.
But Cordy struggled on Sunday against Melbourne big man Jake Spencer a week after being monstered by Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands.
Beveridge said Minson would be considered for the Bulldogs' clash with Greater Western Sydney next Saturday, after he revealed back up option Boyd could be due for a rest.
"We consider him every week and he'll be a chance to come in next week," he said.
