Legends at odds as ban looms for Bombers star

The AFL world is split over the potential punishment coming the way of Essendon's towering key forward Peter Wright.

Wright was referred straight to the tribunal for an incident which left Sydney's Harry Cunningham unconscious on the SCG turf on Saturday night.

The match review officer found Wright's hit to be careless conduct, severe impact and high contact after he jumped off the ground to contest a mark and collided with Cunningham's head.

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Many have debated whether Wright had genuine intentions to mark the ball.

Being referred straight to the tribunal suggests the AFL will argue for a minimum four-game ban, and footy icon Leigh Matthews agrees that should be the starting point.

"It was a three or four-weeker from the time you saw it," Matthews told Nine's Footy Furnace on Sunday.

"Cunningham is off for the game - that is where there should be a send-off rule mechanism so the player who did it, in this case Wright, he's off for the game too, just to even up the numbers."

Debate was reignited about the introduction of a send-off in the AFL following Jimmy Webster's brutal hit on North Melbourne skipper Jy Simpkin during pre-season.

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St Kilda player Webster was suspended for seven weeks for that incident, although he wasn't contesting a mark and opted to jump off the ground and lead with his shoulder after Simpkin had released the ball.

Legendary former coach Mick Malthouse was one to suggest a red card introduction following Webster's hit.

But he is in Wright's corner over what happened on Saturday night.

"(Wright) turned his body, I'm not 100 per cent sure he meant to do it," Matlhouse told Nine's Today on Monday.

"I know now the care has got to be taken... I'd give him one or two weeks frankly, at best.

"He's two-metre (tall) Peter and he's playing against someone who is barely five foot seven, five foot eight.

"I think we've got to get a few things realistic in regards to how they happen.

"Yes the outcome is not always good - (Cunningham) did hit his head on the ground - I'm going to have a lot of people disagreeing with me."

Wright is expected to front the tribunal on Tuesday evening.