COLLINGWOOD bolter Kayle Kirby's chances of making his AFL debut remain alive after escaping with a reprimand from the VFL's Match Review Panel for his gut punch on Geelong's Tom Ruggles at Olympic Park Oval on Saturday.

Kirby, 18, the equal leader of the VFL's goalkicking award, added another three majors in a strong performance to put himself in contention to play his first AFL match against Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

Earlier on Monday, AFL.com.au reported the VFL was looking at an off-the-ball hit that saw Ruggles crumple to the turf and then leave the ground to catch his breath for a brief period of time.

Kirby and Ruggles were fighting for position inside forward 50 when they became involved in a scuffle, which is where Kirby lashed out and swung his arm into Ruggles' midriff.

The officiating umpire did not see the incident, but made a note of it when filing his paperwork for the League after the game.

It is believed there was limited vision available, given the incident was behind play, with the VFL looking at all the available angles on Monday. 

The Magpies booted just two goals after half-time against Geelong in their AFL clash at the MCG on Saturday and Kirby would be a handy inclusion in attack. 

The powerful medium-sized forward has booted 42 goals in 16 matches in the VFL this season, a remarkable turn around from where he was during pre-season training.

Kirby, pick No.50 in last year's NAB AFL Draft from the Bendigo Pioneers, initially struggled with the demands and the professionalism required during his first three months at the club.

The third-round draft selection was so far off the pace in regard to his running that the club's fitness staff had to take him out of main training and build up his endurance away from the group, with countless hours spent across the summer running laps and completing interval-based training.

Coach Nathan Buckley said Kirby deserved a lot of credit for turning things around so quickly.

Buckley said Kirby still had plenty of work to do as he continued to adjust to the running demands expected of the modern game.

"He's shown some great signs for us. One-on-one – in the air or on the ground – he's rarely beaten, and he's got great goal sense," Buckley said.

"His development has been fantastic. He's tipped himself into it and bought into the program. He's gone from a player who's been a bit of a Hail Mary, to be honest, to a player who's got the scope to come into the AFL and have a bit of an impact.

"Whether it's next week or whether it's next year is going to be up to opportunity and up to him and us."