Geelong superstar Joel Selwood has hit back at critics over his “free shot” tackle on Lion Thomas Berry.

Selwood doesn’t believe he will have a case to answer after tackling Berry to the ground despite the umpire blowing the whistle to stop play.

The midfielder conceded a 50m penalty for his efforts in Geelong’s one-point win over Brisbane on Friday night and came under heavy criticism.

But speaking on SEN today, Selwood defended his actions.

“The way that I personally see it … he was running out the front of a stoppage, the whistle went, he went for a fend off,” Selwood said.

“If I half tackle him, then he gets through. So I full tackled him.

“I just wanted to bring the ball to a stop.

“I tackled him, kept him to my chest.

“He put out the fend.”

Berry had pulled up before Selwood sling tackled him, and luckily was able to put his arm out to brace for impact with the ground.

Fox Footy panellist Nick Dal Santo was unimpressed by Selwood’s efforts and says he will come under scrutiny.

“This is one of the greatest tacklers in the modern era. That was a free shot and if you look at that vision again from the second angle, there is a moment where Joel Selwood sees the umpire in his vision and carries on,” Dal Santo said.

“Whether that tackle is in play or not in play, or whether Joel Selwood knew or didn’t know – you still can’t tackle like that.”

“Berry is limp, that is the easiest person to tackle in the world in that moment,” Fox Sports’ Tom Morris added.

The Selwood tackle was one of a number of spiteful clashes in the match, with teammate Gary Rohan set to come under review for his strike on Lion Lachie Neale and coach Chris Scott reportedly to get a ‘please explain’ from the AFL for his quarter time antics.