Carlton youngster Steven Browne has been hit with a three match suspension by the AFL match review panel for his role in the incident which has left Adelaide star Jason Porplyzia facing a month on the sidelines with bruising to his brain.
And experienced Geelong defender Darren Milburn has become the first victim of an AFL crackdown on rough tackles - hit with a two match suspension for rough conduct following his tackle on Richmond youngster Shane Edwards on Saturday night.
But there is a strong chance the Cats and the Blues will risk their players receiving heavier bans by challenging the suspensions at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night following two of the more controversial decisions by the match review panel this year.
Despite the serious injury sustained by Porplyzia, Browne's collision with him with the Crows' strong-marking forward appeared accidental while the Cats will be wondering just why Milburn has been cited when other players who have committed similar tackles this season have gone unpunished.
Indeed Port Adelaide's Jacob Surjan was cleared on Monday over any wrongdoing over a similar tackle to Milburn's which left St Kilda veteran Robert Harvey concussed on Sunday.
And previously this season the match review panel has cleared Port Adelaide's Matt Thomas and Richmond defender Luke McGuane over tackles in which they pinned the arms of Adelaide's Nathan Bassett and St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt respectively resulting in both players hitting the ground in the same manner as Edwards did.
Riewoldt even missed one week with a knee injury as a result of McGuane's tackle yet Milburn could be missing for up to three matches even though Edwards suffered no lasting injuries.
The panel ruled Milburn's actions as reckless conduct, high impact and high contact - equating to 425 points or a four match ban but this drops to 318.75 points and a three match ban because of Milburn's previous clean record.
That means he is risking a three match suspension if he challenges the case and loses but will cop just 239.06 points and a two match ban if he accepts the charge.
While the Cats will be reluctant to be without the 2007 All-Australian defender, the reigning premier may decide that it is not worth challenging the case given that top spot is already secured and Milburn would only miss games against Melbourne and Sydney before then having the last two games to regain his match fitness before the finals.
In contrast Surjan was cleared over his similar tackle on Harvey after the panel ruled there was only "one action" in the tackle - meaning Surjan, unlike Milburn, did not throw his pinned opponent to the ground while the panel also ruled that Harvey, unlike Edwards, was still in possession of the ball when thrown to the ground in the tackle.
Browne meanwhile was also charged with rough conduct for his clash with Porplyzia - who was taken from the ground unconscious and with is right arm hanging by his side after he again dislocated his shoulder.
The Carlton youngster, who has played just 11 games, can accept a three match ban but risks four if he challenges his ban unsuccessfully at the tribunal.
Browne's teammate Bret Thornton also appeared to contribute to the bizarre collision by pushing Porplyzia into Browne's path yet escaped censure from the panel.
The Crows announced on Monday that "a small area" of Porplyzia's brain has been bruised following the collision - which is expected to rule the Crows star out until the finals.
Adelaide football operations manager John Reid said Porplyzia will need to undergo another brain scan before he is cleared to play but said he expects him to make "a full recovery."
Meanwhile Fremantle bad boy Jeff Farmer has been booked for the 16th time in his career and has accepted a one match suspension for striking West Coast's Mark Nicoski while Adelaide's Ivan Maric and Carlton's Simon Wiggins were fined for wrestling each other.
Several other incidents were looked at but given the all-clear including troubled Sydney spearhead Barry Hall's clash with Bulldog defender Lindsay Gilbee, which was considered a push rather than a strike.