AFL great Nick Riewoldt has launched a scathing attack on the AFL after an incident between Port Adelaide’s Hugh Jackson and Brisbane champ Dayne Zorko was only lightly sanctioned.

During the third quarter of the Saturday night clash at the Gabba, Zorko was curled up over the ball and in a vulnerable position after copping a glancing blow to the head.

The 22-year-old Port player was then caught on camera kneeing Zorko in the ribs as he stood over him.

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The 36-year-old veteran, who had received a free kick which resulted in a Lions goal, was clearly hurt and upset by his treatment.

The incident was obviously looked at by the the AFL’s match review officer but, incredibly, Jackson only received a tap on the wrist.

The incident was graded as intentional conduct, low impact and body contact, and Jackson was fined $3000 (which can be reduced to $2000 with an an early guilty plea).

Riewoldt was in shock by the outcome and let rip on his popular segment Roo’s Marks on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.

“Hugh Jackson got a B on this segment last week, this week, it’s an F,” Riewoldt said.

“Have a look at the knee here into the ribs of Zorko,” he continued, as 7NEWS chief footy reporter Mitch Cleary shouted, “fine, fine.”

“That was dirty,” Riewoldt said, “And cleared by the MRO, Mitch ... you’re right.”

Riewoldt said it sent a bad message to the rest of the players in the competition.

“So get this players, you can drop your knees into a player when they’re on the ground,” he said.

“Go your hardest because you won’t get suspended. you’ll only cop a fine. Ridiculous.”

The message it sends to players in lower leagues and junior footballers is also quite bewildering.

The AFL’s match review officer follows a matrix, so penalties are graded more harshly when an incident is high and also when the impact is greater.

But there have been repeated calls for the AFL to judge incidents on football actions and non-football actions, so players are not punished for accidents and players who engage in off-the-ball punching and striking are punished accordingly.