The AFL could be left in the unenviable position of having an ineligible winner on Brownlow night, after Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield was handed a suspension for his tackle on Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer.
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Geelong were seeking legal advice from a QC on Monday afternoon and have until 11am on Tuesday to decide whether to challenge the decision at the tribunal.
Dangerfield has been offered a one-week suspension after the match review panel deemed his tackle to be dangerous.
The incident was graded as careless contact with medium impact to the head, resulting in a two-match suspension that can be halved with an early plea.
Kreuzer suffered mild concussion as a result of the tackle and failed to return to the ground.
In one of the most controversial decisions since the match review panel was introduced, the one week suspension was handed down by Nathan Burke, Jason Johnson and Michael Jamison.
The Cats superstar was seen to be in what was largely a two horse race with Richmond's Dustin Martin for the Brownlow Medal.
Dangerfield remains adamant that he did nothing wrong and reiterated the point on Channel Seven on Sunday.
"I felt it was a fair tackle. There was no umpire's call at the time," he said.
"So I don't see an issue with it, but it's not up to me."
An unsuccessful challenge will render Dangerfield unavailable for games against fellow top-four aspirants Sydney and Richmond.
It's the first time in his 196-game career that Dangerfield has been suspended.
In other significant news, retiring Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge has also been offered a one week suspension after striking Sydney forward Tom Papley.
It's Hodge's third small offence which equates to a one week ban.
Sydney superstar Lance Franklin was fined $1500 for his open hand push to the face of Hodge during a feisty Friday night contest at the MCG.
