LACHIE Hunter was taken to hospital on Friday night with concussion-like symptoms after the 'clothesline' tackle from North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas.

The Western Bulldogs midfielder played out the game after the final-term tackle but AFL.com.au understands he was taken to hospital after the Dogs' defeat by his father, former Bulldog Mark Hunter, in consultation with club doctors, to have the symptoms checked.

The Bulldogs will monitor the 21-year-old ahead of Saturday night's clash with Adelaide, but football manager Graham Lowe said Hunter had recovered well after Friday night.

"He was cleared to go home, but in consultation with the club doctors he went into hospital for further observation which he came through well, he was released a couple of hours later.



"He presented to the club well the next day (Saturday) and also today, and we’ll put him through the appropriate battery of tests to confirm that he is fit and available to be selected this week."

The Match Review Panel offered Thomas a one-game ban for the hit, which was graded as careless conduct and medium impact after taking a medical report from the Bulldogs into consideration.

Hunter was bending over to pick up the ball when Thomas' wayward tackle attempt caught him high.

Bulldogs teammates instantly remonstrated with the North forward, and on Saturday Marcus Bontempelli said the players "thought there was quite a bit of malice in it".

Hunter was the Bulldogs' best player in their 16-point loss to the unbeaten Kangaroos, with the left-footer gathering a career-best 44 disposals.

Hunter, who joined the Western Bulldogs as a father-son selection at the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, has this year emerged as one of the stars of the club's midfield.

He has averaged 33 disposals a game in the first six rounds, sitting second to only Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell for total disposals in the competition.