Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield believes the match review panel system needs to be overhauled and says rules on eligibility for the Brownlow Medal must change.
Dangerfield, who won the Brownlow in 2016 and polled the second-most votes on Monday night behind Richmond's Dustin Martin, was ineligible for this year's medal because of a tackle on Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer.
The controversial incident caused uproar across the football community, with many believing the tackle should not have been enough to put Dangerfield out of the running to win consecutive Brownlows.
In a wide-ranging interview with Channel 7's Talking Footy, Dangerfield said he hated having his name linked to suspension.
"I think the game has changed. If you look at fairest and best, and I agree with those parameters, the way we adjudicate from the MRP now, there were plenty of acts through the year that got players suspended, but it doesn't mean they're not fair players.
"If you look at the incident with Ben Brown, I thought that was fair play. Unfortunately Brown goes down and is concussed, but what else is [Brodie] Grundy supposed to do?
"We're taught to tackle in this game and conversely if you don't, you've got to answer to your own teammates come Monday about why you didn't.
"It's pretty difficult when the answer is, 'Well, I was concerned with the safety of my opponent'. Like, come on."
Grundy accepted a two-match suspension for his tackle on Brown, which concussed North Melbourne's leading goalkicker and forced him off the ground and into an ambulance.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley later described the action as the "perfect tackle", a comment that North counterpart Brad Scott scoffed at.
"The bit that still really disappoints me is that I hate having my name linked to suspension," Dangerfield said.
Dangerfield was handed a two-match suspension that was reduced to one with an early plea for his tackle on Kreuzer.
The Cats were in the middle of an arm wrestle to finish inside the top four and were facing clashes against fellow aspirants Sydney and Richmond in rounds 20 and 21 respectively.
Dangerfield accepted the penalty, which at the time drew praise from former premiership captain Cameron Ling.
"When I hear suspension, in my own head I immediately view careless acts that are not in the spirit of the game, and I felt that my tackle was far from that and I think that's where there's been a bit of frustration with the MRP, that it just doesn't make a huge amount of sense," Dangerfield said.
"It's probably topical with what happened over the weekend, I think that the guys [Trent Cotchin and Brandon Ellis] should have got off.
"It hasn't been well-handled ??? but it hasn't been consistent and that's where as a player that the frustration comes because it changes week to week.
"It's a delicate issue ... but I think when it comes to tackling and viewing the incident and basing it on the result rather than the action, I don't really agree with that."
In the interview Dangerfield also opens up about his former team Adelaide and how difficult he found leaving the club after the murder of coach Phil Walsh.
He also talks about the club's pursuit of former champion Gary Ablett, who on Tuesday officially requested a trade back to the Cattery for the second consecutive year.
