WATCH: Houston has a problem with off-ball hit destined for MRO

Collingwood's Dan Houston will have the MRO to answer after a nasty hit at the half-back flank during Thursday night's contest between the Pies and the Blues.

The Magpie recruit collected Carlton's Lachie Fogarty off the ball, leaving the ground and connecting with Fogarty's head.

The hit is comparable to Melbourne's Kysaiah Pickett's incident on Bailey Smith in 2023, where Pickett was suspended for two matches after being graded as careless, high contact and high impact.

The old rivalry between the Blues and the Magpies drew plenty off the ball, as Carlton's Sam Walsh and Collingwood's Nick Daicos sparked this tussle at the quarter-time break.