ADELAIDE Crows coach Brenton Sanderson remains hopeful that his star midfielder Scott Thompson will escape penalty for his heavy bump on Geelong's Steve Johnson in the opening seconds of Saturday's game at Simonds Stadium.

Thompson and Johnson collided at the opening bounce as Johnson charged through the centre circle in an attempt to get a clearance on the fly.
 
Thompson appeared to receive a slight nudge from his opponent Joel Corey as he moved into Johnson's path before his shoulder struck Johnson's head.
 
Johnson left the ground and was subbed off midway through the quarter with concussion. He otherwise escaped serious damage.
 
Thompson was not reported.
 
Sanderson was not prepared to comment with conviction about the incident, saying he had not yet seen a replay.
 
"I will have to go back and have a look at it," Sanderson said.

"I noticed he was pushed in to him but I'm not sure. I'll have to go and have a look at it."
 
» Click here to watch the incident

Asked whether he would be disappointed to see Thompson miss weeks as a result of the incident, Sanderson was more definite.

"I'd be disappointed if he got rubbed out," Sanderson said. "I think he'll be fine though."
 
Sanderson said the Crows played hard contested footy and went into Saturday's game with the same approach they took into every game.

"We're a ruthless side and we play on the edge," Sanderson said. "We certainly play hard contested footy. That is just the way we play."