FREMANTLE'S finals push could be in jeopardy with Matthew Pavlich certain to come under scrutiny from the Match Review Panel, and full-back Luke McPharlin and utility Matt de Boer reported.

Pavlich has pleaded innocence over a back-hander that floored Eagle Mitch Brown in the third quarter of Freo's 65-point derby win at Patersons Stadium.

However, it appears a line-ball decision at best for the Freo skipper. Pavlich flung his arm back and clipped Brown on the top of his head with the ball 30m away.

"I was facing the footy and there was a bit of a wrestle," Pavlich said after the match.

"I was just trying to make some space between my opponent and the football so we'll wait and see."

Pavlich was outstanding with eight goals, winning the Ross Glendinning Medal and leading Freo to a fifth straight win to sit on the edge of the top eight.

But he would leave an enormous hole if banned for next week's game against Adelaide.

McPharlin's first-term report for a front-on bump on Jack Darling could also see him miss the Crows clash and possibly more matches.


De Boer clumsily threw out a foot and kicked Daniel Kerr in the leg, after Kerr wrong-footed him in the second term.

Fremantle midfielder David Mundy paid tribute to Pavlich after the match.

"He is a great captain," Mundy said.

"He has been individually a great player for a long time but the great thing about Matthew is that he really tries to bring everyone along with him and teach them how to play.

"I think Chris Mayne's progression this year has been as a result of a lot of hard work by Matthew."

Mundy was the second best on the ground and his clearance work, with Nat Fyfe, Michael Barlow, and Jon Griffin was pivotal to the result.

"I think we had a clearance tally of plus-13 so against quality ruckmen like Cox and Naitanui and really quality on-ballers that's a great result for us," Mundy said.