Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has responded to the Ryan Nyhuis tackle that saw his star forward Robbie Gray knocked out in his side's loss to Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
Hinkley's side fell to a nine-point loss to the 13th-placed Dockers, missing a chance to join Richmond and West Coast at the top of the table.
The loss of Gray to a sling tackle in the third term certainly didn't help their chances, with Hinkley describing the tackle as "exactly what you're not supposed to do."
MORE: Nic Naitanui injury: West Coast star goes down with suspected ACL injury
"I don't want to put anyone in trouble but that's why the injury has come about," Hinkley said post-match.
"It's a really difficult one, players don't set out deliberately to cause injury like that, but when you tackle and you take that responsibility away from the player landing, you put yourself in some trouble so clearly there will be some trouble."
Check out the video of the incident below.
Robbie Gray has been stretchered off the field after this tackle from Ryan Nyhuis. #AFLFreoPower pic.twitter.com/2kZiDPvo84
— AFL (@AFL) July 15, 2018
Gray's left arm was pinned as he was dumped into the notoriously hard Optus Stadium turf, leaving him unconscious for some time.
A free kick was paid against Fremantle, but that's unlikely to be the last Nyhuis hears of the incident, with match review officer Michael Christian sure to have another look at it.
The Port Adelaide star was shown to be sitting on the bench following the incident in a positive sign for the South Australian football club.
In the immediate aftermath of the tackle that had Power fans holding their breath, Hinkley had the one thought.
"My first thought goes to Robbie," Hinkley said.
"I just hoped he was okay, and then we get on with having to play the game.
"Those incidents aren't pleasant to see, but they happen."
