Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has called for more latitude to be given to players at the AFL tribunal when they are involved in high-speed collisions.

Clarkson was commenting after Western Bulldogs defender Jarrod Harbrow laid out Hawks midfielder Jordan Lewis with a sickening bump late in the second term of Sunday's game at Etihad Stadium.

Lewis was running with the flight of the ball when the two collided at high speed.

Hawks ruck coach Damian Monkhorst, sitting on the interchange bench, told Clarkson that the impact looked like a train wreck.

Lewis was concussed and stretchered off the field, but returned to the game in the final term.

Clarkson said he had not seen a replay of the incident, but it appeared Harbrow was making a legitimate attack on the ball.

"I haven't seen the incident, but if Harbrow's elbow is up even just slightly and he (Lewis) has been hit in the head, he's probably got a six-week holiday coming," Clarkson said.

"In the tone of the game, for me, sometimes those things are going to happen in footy, it's a tough, brutal game and it's getting quicker and harder to adjudicate what is fair and what's unfair."

"It's a tough, brutal game sometimes ... 'Kanga's' (Hawthorn coach John Kennedy) old philosophy - you cop one, you just pass it on.

"By the end of your career, you've usually copped just as many as you've given."

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade strongly defended Harbrow's conduct.

"It showed a great deal of courage from Lewis, who was fantastic in the contest, and I thought Jarrod committed himself as well - there was no other option, really," Eade said.

"We've watched the tape and Jarrod got his hand to the ball first ... it's just unfortunate for Lewis."

Head-high contact has again been a controversial topic this season, with the match review panel making conflicting judgments.

Along with the Harbrow-Lewis clash, the panel is also likely to look at a second-term incident where Hawks key forward Lance Franklin made contact with Jason Akermanis.

The Bulldogs veteran was floored but was soon back in the game.

Brisbane's Ashley McGrath is already on report for rough conduct following an incident where he made contact with the face of Port Adelaide ruckman Cameron Cloke.

There are unconfirmed reports that an incident seconds before led to the contact.

Lions ruckman Mitch Clark was reported for striking Jackson Trengove, while Hayden Ballantyne of Fremantle was booked for the unusual charge of pinching.

West Coast forward Ashley Hansen is on report for striking North Melbourne midfielder Daniel Wells.

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