North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has promised his AFL club will fight Drew Petrie's misconduct charge.
Scott was "flabbergasted" to hear Petrie had been cited by the match review panel for making contact to the face of Brian Lake during the pair's infamous scrap last Friday night.
The Hawthorn defender wrestled Petrie to the ground and wrapped a hand around his throat during the game at Etihad Stadium.
The Kangaroos forward would have escaped with a reprimand had he submitted an early plea.
Petrie will serve a one-match ban if he does not beat the charge at the tribunal on Tuesday.
Scott did not attempt to hide his disgust over the panel's findings.
"The charge is unnecessary and unreasonable contact. I'd ask any reasonable person to suggest what Drew should have done in that situation," Scott told the Seven Network's Talking Footy.
"Maybe write Brian an email? Because he couldn't see. He couldn't breathe and he couldn't talk.
"I'm not sure what else he was supposed to do.
"(You can use) any adjective (to describe the charge). Flabbergasted came to my mind."
Essendon coach Mark Thompson suggested he would empower Brendon Goddard to decide whether he wanted to take his case to the tribunal.
Goddard was given a two-match ban for engaging in rough conduct against Kane Cornes, but an early plea will shave a week off his suspension.
Replays suggested there wasn't much in the incident, but Goddard would miss games against Collingwood and Western Bulldogs if he gambles and loses.
"We'll have a meeting (on Tuesday morning)," Thompson told Fox Footy.
"It's probably Brendon's (decision) in the end.
"We'll advise him. We'll have some legal people look at it .. they know the tribunal."
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