HAWTHORN star Tom Mitchell's Brownlow Medal chances could be in jeopardy because of an off-the-ball incident with North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein in Sunday's match at Etihad Stadium.

The ball-magnet appeared to elbow the Roos ruckman high early in the second quarter and Shaun Atley was the beneficiary of a free kick and shot at goal from the top of the goal square.

Mitchell was second in CrownBet's Brownlow Medal market, behind 2017 winner Dustin Martin, but has temporarily been removed pending a potential sanction.

GUTSY ROOS STUN HAWKS: Full match coverage and stats

Goldstein commented on the incident to Channel Seven post-match. 

"It wasn't hard enough, I barely even noticed. Like a fly touching me," Goldstein said. 

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson told reporters he had not seen Mitchell's contact to Goldstein and declined to comment.

"We'll have a look at it during the week," Clarkson said. 

"I knew it was a free kick, but I didn't know where the hell it had come from, so I can't comment on it until I actually see it."

HARTUNG v OLD MATES: Five talking points

Fellow Hawk Ryan Burton could also be in strife after his collision with Shaun Higgins left the Roo concussed and needing to be taken off on a stretcher.

Burton went to bump Higgins early in the third term but they clashed heads, leaving Higgins down for the count and needing medical attention as the game was held up for several minutes.

The Roos later confirmed Higgins was moving his fingers, arms and toes and talking in the rooms, but the club's reigning best and fairest remains at Epworth hospital under observation.

Clarkson said Burton was fortunate he didn't suffer the same fate as his Kangaroos opponent. 

"Unfortunately for Higgo, I think he was out of it before he even hit the deck and usually for mine... that's a clash of heads," Clarkson said.

"Strangely enough, sometimes if it's a shoulder, there's still a little bit of meat on the shoulder to actually protect the player who's been hit in the head, but when it's two noggins hitting each other, Burto was bloody lucky he wasn't knocked out as well.

"But it was probably because Shaun was blindsided. He didn't see it coming, so he just had no idea that contact was coming."

Remarkably in the same passage of play, Roos teammate Ed Vickers-Willis was also concussed after coming off second-best when trying to bump Hawk Harry Morrison. 

Vickers-Willis ran from the field, but was later ruled out for the rest of the game.

WATCH: Two Roos KO'd in a matter of seconds

Meanwhile, North Melbourne youngster Cameron Zurhaar was reported for rough conduct after pushing Hawthorn defender David Mirra into the fence.

The incident that took place earlier in the second quarter sparked a fiery reaction from Mirra's teammates.

Despite being initially very sore, Mirra stayed on the field and played out the game.

WATCH: Is Zurhaar in trouble?