WEST Coast ruckman Dean Cox has suffered no structural damage after being knocked out when struck on the jaw by Richmond's Ty Vickery during Friday night's game at Paterson's Stadium.
Cox, who announced during the week he was to retire at the end of the year, was felled in a ruck contest in the second quarter and was subbed out of the game with concussion.
Vickery was reported for his part in the incident and was reported to be remorseful for his actions after the game.
Hardwick defends 'hard, tough' Vickery
West Coast assistant coach Brady Rawlings told Sportstalk on ABC Perth radio that Cox had suffered no more than concussion.
"Structurally he is OK, just the concussion last night is all he got away with," Rawlings said.
The Eagles were obviously disappointed with the incident but have remained tight-lipped about their reaction.
[It's] just disappointing to be losing a ruckman during the second quarter and lose him for the rest of the game," Rawlings said.
"Obviously it is not ideal when you have got someone sitting on the bench due to an incident like that."
Richmond football manager Dan Richardson told ABC Grandstand that Vickery was "obviously a bit remorseful for the fact that Dean had gone down the way he had, and I don't think any player goes out to see an opponent hurt like that."
He said the club would support Vickery despite widespread condemnation of his actions, including at the ground from irate West Coast fans.
"You get around your teammates in that situation. Whether or not you have done the right thing or the wrong thing you stick by your teammates and we'll do that as a footy club," Richardson said.
He said the club had been pleased with Vickery's past month of football after an ordinary start to the season. He said the club wanted Vickery to be hard in his attack on the ball.
"We're encouraging Ty to play with more aggression and I think he has done that, but obviously incidents like that aren't the type of aggression you encourage either," Richardson said.
Ty Vickery celebrates with Richmond fans after the Tigers' victory at Patersons Stadium. Picture: AFL Media
Richardson said ideally the tall forward's fate would be known earlier than Monday but he understood there were many aspects to consider in trying to fast-track such decisions.
Last Monday, the AFL said it had reminded clubs to be careful when speaking publicly about incidents that would come under Match Review Panel scrutiny, however it had no plans to move hearings or Match Review Panel findings to the weekend.
Richmond captain Trent Cotchin told SEN the Tigers liked Vickery playing on the edge and being physical.
"There are going to be times when there are frustrations for him and the team but… we are going to support our teammates as much as we possibly can," Cotchin said.
He said the crowd's anger had inspired the Tigers on Friday night.
"As loud as the West Coast crowd was, you sort of thrive on that," Cotchin said.
"You love the fact that the opposition supporters are starting to show some real hatred for you.
"It was like 'we've sort of got them here'.
"They were just that focused on all the spotfires that were popping up on the field more than the game and I think that's the little mental edge that you're looking for."
Richmond great and television commentator Matthew Richardson said the crowd's behaviour was disgraceful.
"On the boundary line at halftime, I was having a bit of a joke with them," Richardson told Radio 3AW.
"But there were people in the crowd losing their marbles and it was ugly.
"There were a lot of kids around and I thought it was a disgrace, some of the things that were said.
"The benches there at Subi, you can lean right over. It was a bit unsavoury."
