DUSTIN Martin could be severely out of pocket for making a gesture to Collingwood fans at the MCG on Saturday.

After running into an open goal in the last quarter, Martin raised two fingers to the cheer squad.

That’s one more than they had been sending his way for most of the afternoon.

The match review panel has referred the incident to the AFL’s footy operations department “for determination under the Player Rules after making a gesture to the crowd.”

A fine of $1500 (reduced to $1000 with a guilty plea) is standard for offensive gestures by players — but the financial pain could be much worse for Martin.

WHO WAS WORSE — MARTIN OR THE FANS? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW

If the AFL decides he has a case to answer, this will qualify as a second offence under the tribunal guidelines covering the previous two AFL years — and that’s worth a $2500 fine (which can be cut to $1500).

On top of that he will have to pay a $2000 fine for making a handcuffs gesture after a goal in the 2013 elimination final. That fine was suspended for two years — a period which expires in about three weeks.

On Saturday Magpie fans were seen leaning over the fence giving Martin and teammate Jack Riewoldt the bird — and it didn’t take an expert lip-reader to figure out they weren’t delivering compliments.

media_camera Dustin Martin signals to the Collingwood cheer squad after joining Richmond’s goalkicking spree. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson described the behaviour as “pathetic”.

“I’m watching feral fans using Fs and Cs to abuse Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin — and carrying on like absolutes bums,” Robinson said on SEN radio.

“I cannot believe that footage, I sometimes think that we’ve moved on from that.

media_camera Jack Riewoldt engages with the Magpie fans.

“Riewoldt was standing there, starts getting abused, then puts his hands to his ear so all these people swarm to the front of the fence.

“These people think paying their money to go to the footy allows them to abuse Jack Riewoldt who is five feet away.”

Essendon champion Tim Watson, who was calling the game on Channel 7, said the Richmond players shouldn’t have been sucked in by opposition supporters.

“I think Dimma (Damien) Hardwick would be disappointed with that,” he said.

“They (the Tigers) have been so good, so committed and disciplined about the way they’ve gone about their play, I just don’t think you should be interacting with the Collingwood fans.”

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