Ben Stratton's provocative defending tactics have seen the Hawthorn skipper sent straight to the tribunal and facing an extended stint on the sidelines.

Key points: Orazio Fantasia's upper left arm was covered in bruises after being pinched by Ben Stratton

Orazio Fantasia's upper left arm was covered in bruises after being pinched by Ben Stratton He was strongly criticised on social media for his pinching tactics

He was strongly criticised on social media for his pinching tactics He has also been fined for making an obscene gesture in the second quarter at Docklands

Stratton repeatedly pinched Essendon opponent Orazio Fantasia during Friday night's match, as AFL players, commentators and fans questioned the Hawks defender's behaviour.

On Saturday, the AFL match review panel laid three charges against Stratton.

The first was a charge relating to the pinching from Stratton against Fantasia. The charge was not graded, but labelled serious misconduct, and the defender is not able to accept an early guilty plea.

The second offence was making an obscene gesture in the second quarter at Docklands. He can accept a $1,000 fine with an early plea.

The final charge related to Stratton stomping on Essendon's Shaun McKernan in the final quarter of the match. Like the pinching charge, Stratton was referred directly to the tribunal and cannot accept an early guilty plea.

The focus, however, had been on the Hawks' skipper's duel with Fantasia — the back of the Essendon forward's upper left arm was covered in bruises by the end of the Bombers' 19-point win over the Hawks at Docklands.

"You can't do anything about it," Fantasia told Channel Seven after the match.

"He's a really good defender, he's got all the tricks in the book.

"He's done it for years and every time I play him I know it's a tough one."

Orazio Fantasia's left arm was left bruised after being pinched by Hawks captain Ben Stratton. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

While Fantasia played down Stratton's antics, his Bombers teammate Cale Hooker was left unimpressed.

"It comes as a surprise," Hooker told 3AW.

"Usually the good players don't have to get involved in that stuff and Ben Stratton is a pretty good player."

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Stratton was strongly criticised on social media, with retired St Kilda great and ABC expert commentator Nathan Burke saying pinching was not a good look for the game.

"When deciding on a misconduct charge the MRO will ask - is that something we want to see in the game?" Burke tweeted.

"When it comes to premeditated pinching the obvious answer is NO."

Burke's sentiments were backed up by fellow ABC commentator Corbin Middlemas, while little support was found elsewhere on Twitter.

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Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said he would speak to Stratton before commenting on the controversy.

"I haven't seen anything, so I will have a chat to him either Saturday or Sunday and see what's occurred there," Clarkson said on Friday night.

"I wouldn't like to comment until I speak to Stratts. Once I speak to Stratts I will have a better feel for what my attitude is to it."

Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley was fined $1,200 six years ago for pinching North Melbourne great Brent Harvey.

AAP/ABC