AFL fans have called out Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos for playing for a free kick in the first quarter of Saturday night’s blockbuster clash against Adelaide.

Daicos and veteran Crow Brodie Smith were involved in a push and shove right under the umpire’s nose at a stoppage.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Nick Daicos given free kick after tangle with Brodie Smith.

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The Brownlow Medal favourite hit Smith with an aggressive shove to the chest before Smith retaliated with a near identical blow.

But then Smith gave Daicos another shot to the chest region that caused the gun Magpie squat down.

The umpire immediately paid a free kick as the pro-Adelaide crowd made their feelings felt with a chorus of boos.

The resulting free kick gave the Pies another inside 50 to continue their dominant start.

While it didn’t amount to a goal, social media lit up when a clip of the free kick was posted.

“My thoughts are that Daicos is umpired completely differently to other players,” one fan said.

“He’s a champion, but gee I hate seeing him flop like this. Just looks horrible,” another said.

“The only player in the comp that gets this free kick,” another said.

“Soft, weak protected species, embarrassing. The commentators said nothing which speaks volumes,” another added.

“The fact the umpire falls for that and pays it is a joke,” another said.

While the majority of the fans turned on Daicos, who is often targeted by opposition fans, there were some who said there was no need for Smith to do it.

They had already given each other one each before Smith’s extra blow forced the umpire into action.

“Umpires have to penalise the first action. They’ll stop this within two weeks if they start giving away frees,” one fan said.

“Maybe don’t punch a guy in the chest?” another said.

It remains to be seen whether Smith will come under match review scrutiny for the incident.

St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager was fined for a similar blow to Daicos’ chest earlier this season.

It wasn’t the only controversial moment of the match with a crucial missed free kick late in the third quarter gifting Adelaide a goal.

Ben Keays got away with a clear throw to Isaac Cumming, who raced into an open goal to give the Crows an eight-point lead.

It would have been a brave call by the umpires given how quick it happened, but replays clearly showed Keays made no contact with his fist.