Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is growing increasingly concerned about the "cowardly" hits directed at star defender Jason Johannisen.
Beveridge took aim at Eagles tagger Mark Hutchings for the physical punishment he dealt out to Johannisen in West Coast's seven-point win last weekend.
Hutchings' elbow to the back of Johannisen while there was a stop in play got Beveridge particularly irate, and the premiership-winning coach questioned why such tactics didn't draw more than just a free kick.
"He got cleaned up from behind," Beveridge said.
"Hutchings ran off the bench without him looking. It's cowardly.
"We got a free kick from it, but he (Hutchings) got away with that..
Johannisen finished with just 12 disposals for the match, continuing a trend of quiet displays whenever he's been physically targeted.
AFL great Wayne Carey says Johannisen needs to man up, and perhaps even instigate some rough stuff himself.
But Beveridge believes Hutchings went too far in his harassment of last year's Norm Smith medallist.
"Now we're not going to go and belt Hutchings, because we are a disciplined side," Beveridge said.
"But some of that stuff is a bit concerning.
"A free kick doesn't seem enough if you're allowed to go and clean someone up when they can't even see you."
Eagles coach Adam Simpson was shocked to hear Beveridge's assessment of Hutchings' tagging tactics.
"I wouldn't say it's a cowardly act," Simpson said.
"He's played his role. It's a pretty brutal competition.
"You do what you can do within the rules to win the game.
"I don't think that went outside the rules. And if it does, you give away a free kick.
"You find the line. That's where you push it to.
"If you go over it, you get reported or you give away a free kick.
"I don't have any problem with it."
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