Geelong suffered a colossal blow in the first quarter of preliminary final triumph over Hawthorn, with star defender Tom Stewart subbed out due to a concussion and subsequently ruled out of next Saturday’s grand final.

The heartbreak story has reignited debate over whether the AFL should move the pre-finals bye to pre-grand final, which would ensure that players who suffered concussion or short-term injury could recover in time to play in a decider.

Stewart was claimed in a brutal Mabior Chol tackle, with the five-time All-Australian’s arms pinned while his head made heavy contact with the MCG turf.

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The diagnosis means the 32-year-old stopper will enter the league’s 12-day concussion protocols and be unavailable for grand final selection, while Chol is expected to be subjected to Match Review scrutiny — adding more salt in the wounds of Friday night’s 30-point loss.

“Very quickly, as he (Stewart) left the ground, it was apparent that he had a wobble in his step. Only minutes later, he was ruled out by Geelong,” Herald Sun and Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph began at quarter-time.

“This is exactly the kind of incident that we worried about with a pre-finals bye, rather than a pre-grand final bye. It’s why Greg Swann, the AFL’s new football boss, is considering changing those rules.

“AFL coaches have feared this day for four years since the AFL introduced the mandatory 12-day concussion protocols.”

Asked about the brutal Stewart situation post-game, Geelong coach Chris Scott suggested a tweak to the AFL calendar was necessary.

“I am very pro a week off before the grand final, if we can sneak that in this year (for the future),” Scott told reporters.

“But it’s black and white. He (Stewart) knows, we know. It’s a shattering situation for him.”

‘Huge blow’ as Stewart cops concussion | 00:40

Regarding the potential for Chol to be suspended by MRO chief Michael Christian, West Coast premiership player Will Schofield wrote on social media platform X mid-game: “Mabior Chol has an interesting week ahead if Hawthorn win. Surely that’s not weeks? Pinned and concussed says otherwise, though.”

Triple premiership Brisbane legend Jonathan Brown declared Chol “absolutely should not get suspended”.

“What could he have done? You would have to be the strongest human to be able to turn and stop the momentum from going forward,” Brown told Fox Footy.

“I know which way the game’s tracking, but you cannot miss a Grand Final from that action.”

Coleman Medallist Tom Hawkins added: “I think he even tries to minimise the impact when he’s pushed forward into Tom Stewart with his right arm, so look, you’d be disappointed for him.

“I think he’s trying to protect the player … these things happen in our game.”

Tom Stewart of the Cats. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

Immediately after Stewart went down, AFL Legend Jason Dunstall suspected it might’ve been a wrist injury for the Geelong gun — given it appeared to be trapped awkwardly under his body — saying: “Has he landed on his wrist, maybe? All the weight (of the tackle) going through that right wrist.”

Demons great Garry Lyon said: “This is not what the Geelong fans would like. So, Jack Henry, who’s in all sorts of trouble with a foot, (and now Stewart).”

Dunstall chimed in again: “We love the physical side of it, but we don’t want players injured. We want these two (sides) going at it for four quarters.”

Amid a start to the contest which saw Hawthorn kick the opening three goals of the game, Lyon added: “This is what coaching is all about now — ‘OK, we’re on the back foot here, we’ve lost one, potentially two in our back half — and you couldn’t pick two who are more important’.”

In a consolation for the Cats, Henry returned to the field of play late in the first quarter.