Saints gun’s nervous wait over ‘cut and dry’ sling tackle

But in Stocker’s favour is the fact Hipwood’s head at no stage hit the Marvel Stadium turf, meaning he may still avoid suspension.

“It’s as cut and dry … as we’ve seen all year, there’s no question about it,” Lyon said on Fox Footy’s coverage.

“This is what we’re trying to stamp out of the game, regardless of whether or not he hits his head on the ground.”

Fellow AFL great Nathan Brown said regardless of whether or not Hipwood’s head hit the turf, Stocker deserved to be suspended.

“If you’re trying to penalise the action, he should get suspended, shouldn’t he?,” he said.

Max King on report for striking

Nathan Buckley agreed: “If Hipwood puts his head down (and made contact with the ground), then Liam Stoker gets suspended. Is that we want it to become?”

Hipwood would go on to lead the Lions in attack, finishing with his third four-goal haul of the season.

Stocker wasn’t the only Saint in hot water, with Max King also reported for striking Ryan Lester, although replays suggested King may not have even made contact with Lester.

The game started in emotional scenes when both sides joined together in the middle for a tribute to the late Danny Frawley.

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