GWS star Toby Greene has been sent straight to the AFL Tribunal for making intentional contact with umpire Matt Stevic.

Any ban would rule Greene out of Friday night’s semi-final against Geelong at Optus Stadium.

Retired umpire Andrew Coates, who was pushed by Carlton star Greg Williams in 1997, said Greene deserves a suspension.

“I think he was totally out of line,” he told 6PR’s Liam Bartlett and Brad Hardie.

“I think the message really is around how do we protect the values of our game.

“It’s all very well as to what happens at AFL level, but it’s more important about what happens after that, and below that. It is about how we want the game to be portrayed at the junior levels and every other level.

“I think missing the rest of the finals series would be a message.”

Press PLAY to hear the full interview 

(Photo: Rob Blakers/Getty Images.)