Beau McCreery during Collingwood's game against Hawthorn in R23, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

COLLINGWOOD forward Beau McCreery is on the verge on an untimely suspension for finals after being cited for careless umpire contact on Saturday night.

McCreery was fined for shoving Hawthorn's Bailey Macdonald into the umpire at a stoppage in the second quarter, the Magpie's third charge of careless umpire contact this season, the most of anyone in the competition.

Under a new rule introduced this year, a fourth charge of careless umpire contact in the same season will result in an automatic one-game ban, meaning McCreery would miss Collingwood's wildcard final should he be cited again against Brisbane on Friday night.

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Umpire hits deck after Magpie appears to shove Hawk

Beau McCreery seemingly gives a Hawthorn opponent a nudge, who then collides with an umpire and knocks him to the ground

McCreery was fined for careless umpire contact back in round three and again in round six.

As part of the AFL's crackdown on umpire contact last year, particularly at stoppages, the League introduced a rule where a fourth charge in a season would see that player sent straight to the Tribunal.

Carlton's Adam Cerra was the only player to reach that threshold last year and he was fined $5,550 - more than the standard $1000 fine for a first offence - after being referred to the Tribunal.

But a tweak to that rule this year means players are now automatically banned for a fourth offence.

McCreery's transgression on Saturday night is also set to hurt his club in the back pocket as it is the Magpies' fifth charge of careless umpire contact this season.

Gold Coast, Essendon, Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs have all been fined $20,000 for hitting the threshold of five charges in a season, while the Bombers were sanctioned a second time after copping a sixth charge.