Kiara Bowers' hopes of winning the AFLW best-and-fairest award are hanging by a thread after the star Fremantle midfielder was offered a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle.
Bowers' tackle on Melbourne's Eden Zanker was assessed as careless conduct, medium impact, and high contact, resulting in a one-game suspension.
Unless Fremantle appeal the ban and successfully overturn it, Bowers will be ineligible to be crowned the AFLW's best player in 2021.
Bowers finished runner-up last year behind Carlton's Maddy Prespakis, and she was the hot favourite to take out the award this season following her stunning campaign.
Bowers is the runaway leader of the AFL Coaches Association Award on 57 votes, with Collingwood's Brittany Bonnici and North Melbourne's Jasmine Garner next best on 49 votes.
As it stands, Bowers will miss Fremantle's crunch clash with North Melbourne on Saturday, but will be free to return in time for finals.
The Dockers slipped to fourth on the ladder following their shock loss to Melbourne, while North Melbourne dropped to sixth after losing to Brisbane.
The Kangaroos also suffered a big blow at the match review panel after star midfielder Jenna Bruton was hit with a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Brisbane's Shannon Campbell.
The incident was assessed as careless conduct, medium impact, and high contact.
Brisbane's Greta Bodey can escape with a reprimand for tripping.
