Brisbane Lions forward Eric Hipwood has been referred directly to the AFL tribunal for a bizarre incident involving an opponent and an umpire.
Match review officer Michael Christian has sent Hipwood straight to the tribunal after a perplexing chain of events in the Lions' important 41-point victory over the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba on Thursday night.
The 24-year-old appeared to push Ryan Gardner during the third quarter of the round 16 game, with the Bulldogs defender then crashing into umpire Jacob Mollison.
Gardner and Mollison collided, and Hipwood was able to run inside-50 to take an easy mark before slotting a goal for the Lions.
Hipwood is not able to accept an early plea for the incident
It comes after Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe avoided a suspension last week for for making contact with an umpire during the Dockers' defeat to Carlton.
GWS superstar Toby Greene was given a six-game ban for his infamous bump on an umpire during last year's elimination final win against the Sydney Swans.
