Fans slam Demons coach Simon Goodwin for making a joke about footy's deadliest issue

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has been blasted by fans after making light of Kysaiah Pickett's head-high shot on Jake Soligo in the team's win over Adelaide on Thursday night.

The Demons star left the ground as he tried to smother a handball from the Crows midfielder but smashed him in the jaw with his elbow, leaving him sprawled on the ground.

In his post-match press conference Simon Goodwin conceded the flashpoint will attract scrutiny from the AFL - before laughing as he made light of the hit.

'Obviously he was trying to smother a handball and that will be looked at through the week, I'm sure,' Goodwin said.

'But we'll just wait and see with that.

'He puts enormous pressure on, he tries to intercept the ball, that's his game.

'He's modified a lot of what he's done previously, and I don't see that in his game much at all anymore. Tonight's a little bit different.'

He then smiled to himself and said 'it was pretty light' as the presser drew to a close.

The hit bore some similarity to Collingwood star Brayden Maynard's smother gone wrong that knocked out Demons star Angus Brayshaw in last year's elimination final.

Brayshaw was forced into retirement aged just 28 as the shocking hit proved too much for him after suffering previous head knocks. 

The devastating news that his career had been ended made him the latest in a long list of players who have suffered shocking effects from multiple concussions, with many worried about contracting the deadly brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Fans were quick to slam Goodwin for not taking the issue seriously.

'Ask Brayshaw if he thinks it was 'light',' one wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Another echoed those comments, saying: 'Do us a favour and ask Angus Brayshaw about 'light' head knocks.'

'Gotta love self interest - at least it's trying hey @melbournefc - bit different commentary around Maynard incident,' a third added.

'I can't stand this bloke. Light!! Are we taking knocks to the head seriously?' wrote another fan. 

However, Soligo is playing down the Pickett incident.

Pickett will learn his fate later on Friday after his high contact on Soligo is examined by match review officer Michael Christian.

Pickett jumped off the ground and made glancing contact with Soligo during Melbourne's 15-point win at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

'I didn't think there was too much (in it),' Soligo told reporters on Friday.

'I kept playing through the game so I was fine. I was all sweet.'

Pickett last year copped two suspensions for high bumps on opponents.