West Coast defender Shannon Hurn is facing a two-match AFL ban for the bump that left Port Adelaide's Paul Stewart with concussion and a broken nose.

The league's bumping laws were again under scrutiny after second round matches, with the match review panel on Monday also handing Brisbane's Jared Brennan a one-match suspension for his front-on bump of Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer.

Hurn would risk a three-match ban if he decides to take his case to the tribunal rather than offering an early guilty plea, while Brennan's prior record means he cannot reduce his suspension with an early plea.

The match review panel ruled that Hurn's conduct was negligent, rather than reckless, and this helped reduce the severity of his penalty.

The heavy contact in the second quarter of Saturday night's match at Subiaco forced Stewart off the field for the rest of the match.

Hurn was runner-up in West Coast's best and fairest last year and, if the suspension stands, it will be a big blow for the winless Eagles.

There has been plenty of debate about the interpretation of bumping incidents so far this season, with Essendon ruckman David Hille escaping any sanction for his contact with Geelong onballer Jimmy Bartel in round one.

Eagle Josh Kennedy broke the jaw of Melbourne utility Colin Sylvia with a shepherd in a pre-season match, but again was not penalised.

Last week, St Kilda key forward Justin Koschitzke received a three-match ban for his front-on bump of Sydney midfielder Nick Malceski.

The match review panel news was better on Monday for North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey.

He had a disastrous match on Saturday night, with only five disposals as the Saints smashed his team by 104 points.

Harvey was also booked during the game for tripping David Armitage, but the panel said the incident was not a trip.

Also on Monday, the match review panel handed Essendon's Courtenay Dempsey a reprimand for striking Fremantle's Hayden Ballantyne.

Several incidents from Monday's bruising Geelong-Hawthorn clash at the MCG are likely to be scrutinised by the match review panel.

A first-quarter clash between Geelong defender Matthew Scarlett and Hawthorn forward Michael Osborne on the ground and writhing in pain, while young Hawk Liam Shiels could be in strife for making high contact on Geelong captain Cameron Ling.

The new rule which prohibits players pinning an opponent's arms and driving them into the ground could also be tested after Hawthorn backman Brent Guerra laid a heavy tackle on opponent Steve Johnson in the third quarter.

Johnson was left dazed and bleeding slightly after he hit the turf, while his teammate Cameron Mooney is likely to have a heavy bump on Osborne, applied just before half-time, looked at.

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