Rival coaches Brad and Chris Scott have defended Geelong captain Joel Selwood after his “chicken wing” tackle in Saturday night’s AFL clash.

Selwood faces certain match review panel scrutiny for the incident just before halftime of the Cats’ 41-point loss to North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

The Geelong star tackled Sam Wright and then twisted the North player’s right arm as the pair went to ground.

Wright’s teammate Jamie Macmillan immediately ran in and angrily pushed Selwood away from Wright, who also spoke angrily to the umpire.

Wright was holding his right arm for a few seconds afterwards.

But North coach Brad Scott joined his twin brother, Geelong coach Chris, in defending Selwood.

“All players are coached now to try and pin an arm, because the umpires are so hot on illegal disposal,” Brad said.

“That’s almost second nature to players now.

“To me, Selwood couldn’t see where the ball was, he pinned the arm – nothing more, nothing less.”

He added that Wright suffered no ill effects from the tackle.

“I spoke to Sam about it and he said ‘yeah, no drama whatsoever’,” he said.

Three years ago, Carlton star Chris Judd received a four-game suspension for a chicken wing tackle on North opponent Taylor Adams.

But Chris Scott doubted Selwood would be in trouble for the Wright tackle.

“I had a look at it at the time … the answer is no, I don’t think he’ll have a problem with it at all,” he said.

“He pinned an arm in the tackle, it happens all the time.

“In fact, the players are coached to do that.

“That was a very minor incident.”

Selwood was high among Geelong’s best with 29 disposals and nine clearances.