Hawthorn defender Daniel Howe may come under the hammer of the Match Review Officer after punching Carlton's Patrick Cripps in the jaw.
In the opening minute of the Melbourne clash, Cripps and Howe engaged in a minor confrontation which resulted in Howe dropping the Blues' star to the floor with a bruising jab.
Cripps lay helplessly for nearly a minute while his teammates forcefully held Howe away from the midfielder.
Will Daniel Howe come under scrutiny for this incident with Patrick Cripps early in the first quarter?#AFLBluesHawks pic.twitter.com/CBI6ixw4lI
— AFL (@AFL) July 22, 2018
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Howe has become one of Hawthorn's most lethal tagger, reknowned for targetting the opposition's best midfielder. Both players had been grabbing at each other's jerseys before the defender delivered the cheap shot.
Dual premiership victor David King said that Howe should be concerned as he potentially faces the Match Review Officer.
“I don’t think he meant to punch him in the jaw, but he has. I think he was going for anywhere in the chest, just trying to make a physical statement,” King said on Fox Footy.
“But he’s got a concern now. Patrick Cripps is one tough hombre and he went to ground.
“That’s not something we see often from Patrick Cripps."
The Blues were kept scoreless at the end of the first term for the first time in more than five decades.
Midfielder Cameron Polson then turned around Carlton's dismal performance by kicking a potential 'Goal of the Year' contender in the third quarter.
Despite Carlton's best efforts they were no match for the Hawks who took home a 72-point 124-52 victory.