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AAP
AAP
Sport
Justin Chadwick and Shayne Hope

Docker Sam Switkowski sent to AFL Tribunal

Docker Sam Switkowski has been sent straight to the AFL Tribunal over a chicken wing tackle. (AAP)

Fremantle forward Sam Switkowski has been sent straight to the AFL Tribunal for a "serious misconduct" chicken wing tackle on Collingwood's Jack Ginnivan.

After bringing Ginnivan to ground late in Sunday's match at Optus Stadium, Switkowski grabbed his opponent's wrist and pinned it behind the 19-year-old's own back.

Switkowski continued to apply upward pressure on Ginnivan's arm until the umpire blew the whistle for a ball up.

Although Ginnivan wasn't hurt in the incident, the AFL match review officer deemed the offence was "serious misconduct", and Switkowski has been sent to tribunal.

"I would say he knew what he was doing," former Melbourne star Garry Lyon told On The Couch.

"He (Ginnivan) got up in the end and was OK. But when you're starting to jam their arm up their back it means that you're going to be responsible for that.

"If he gets a week or two weeks then he's only got himself to blame."

Chicken wing tackles aren't common in the AFL, but in 2012 two-time Brownlow medallist Chris Judd received a four-week ban for one such offence against North Melbourne's Leigh Adams.

Judd's tackle was more serious than Switkowski's given that Judd was third man in and his opponent was injured in the incident.

Ginnivan earned the ire of Fremantle fans in the final term of Sunday's match when he outmarked Brennan Cox and celebrated in front of the Dockers' faithful while he strolled in to kick the easiest of goals.

Magpies coach Craig McRae smiled when asked what he thought of the early celebration, which came a short time before Switkowski's tackle on Ginnivan.

"What do you do there? You want them to be themselves," McRae said.

"Kick the goal and then celebrate with your teammates might be the message."

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