Kysaiah Pickett reported after delivering brutal hit on Bailey Smith

A Melbourne star faces an anxious wait after delivering a nasty hit on an opponent with calls for a lengthy ban to be handed out.

Pickett lays out Smith

Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett faces a nervous wait after cleaning up Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith on Saturday night.

In the second quarter as Smith went to launch the Dogs inside 50, Pickett jumped off the ground and hit the midfielder with a hip and shoulder.

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The impact of the hit sent Smith flying back to the turf with the high shot instantly seeing Pickett placed on report.

Bulldogs ruckman Tim English and midfielder Jack Macrae instantly came in to remonstrate with Pickett as players from both sides got caught up in the tangle.

Replays showed Pickett’s shoulder collected Smith in the neck and chin region, but in what could be good news for the Dees livewire Smith got right back up to his feet and carried on playing.

The impact however will likely result in Pickett being handed a one-week ban, but there are calls for the AFL to come down hard on the hit in the wake of concussion being thrown back into the spotlight in the lead up to round 1.

Pickett has been put on report for this late hit on Bailey Smith.

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Pickett flattened Smith.

Pickett enjoyed a stellar opening half to the season despite the report, collecting 10 disposals as he rotated through the middle of the ground before drifting forward and slotting two goals.

After the Bulldogs looked to have tightened the clamps, the Demons found their groove as they kicked five unanswered goals to hold a 19-point halftime advantage.

Pickett was giving it to the Dogs. Pic: Michael Klein

Calls for Pickett to be handed a potentially lengthy ban come off the back of 60 players launching unprecedented legal action against the league.

Geelong premiership hero Max Rooke has reportedly been listed as the lead plaintiff in the class action suit that is coming after the AFL for compensation over concussions and head injuries.

The Herald Sun first reported Margalit Injury Lawyers lodged the landmark class action at the Supreme Court of Victoria and the firm’s managing principal Michel Margalit has declared players could be awarded compensation of more than $2 million each plus medical expenses.

Margalit Lawyers has launched the class action on behalf of players employed by one or more AFL clubs between 1985 and 14 March 2023 who either suffered concussion or suffered damage from concussions.

The class action lawsuit comes just days after former Western Bulldogs premiership star Liam Picken also filed action against the AFL through the Supreme Court of Victoria. His suit is also seeking compensation from his former club and club doctors over concussions he suffered through his career.