Kiara Bowers' hopes of winning a second straight AFLW best and fairest award are in tatters after the star Fremantle midfielder was slapped with a two-match ban for an off-the-ball bump.
Bulldogs midfielder Kirsty Lamb was tracking her opponent about 40 metres off the ball when Bowers came in with a forceful hip-and-shoulder during Tuesday's match.
The front-on bump caught Lamb unaware, and she was left grabbing at her jaw while she gingerly left the field a short time later.
The incident was assessed as intentional conduct, medium impact and high contact, drawing a two-match ban.
Unless Bowers chooses to appeal against the ban and is successful, she will be ineligible to win the AFLW's top individual award.
Fremantle have until 11am AEDT on Thursday to launch an appeal.
Brisbane premiership hero Jess Wuetschner said she had been on the receiving end of a similar bump in the past against Carlton and it left her rattled.
"IMO (in my opinion) bumps like this off the ball when players aren't expecting it are dangerous," she wrote on Twitter.
"I still remember one I got v Carlton years ago felt like my ribs went through me."
Bowers shared the best and fairest award last year with Collingwood skipper Brianna Davey.
But the Fremantle midfielder was considered lucky to be eligible after receiving a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle in the penultimate round.
Bowers drove Eden Zanker into the ground head first in that incident, but she successfully appealed to have the impact downgraded to low.
It resulted in her escaping with a $400 fine in an outcome that left her eligible to win the AFLW's version of the Brownlow medal
Bowers has starred for Fremantle in their 5-0 start this season, but as it stands will miss Sunday's clash with North Melbourne and the February 12 meeting with Carlton.
The Dockers' Emma O'Driscoll received better news after being cleared of any wrongdoing for her tackle that concussed Bulldogs youngster Gemma Lagioia.
Bulldogs player Jemima Woods also escaped punishment for her tackle from behind that concussed Matilda Sergeant.
