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Richmond star Eilish Sheerin has been referred to the AFLW tribunal in a case that will have a major bearing on their finals hopes.

Eilish Sheerin's stoppage tactic might have backfired badly for Richmond, who face losing their gun midfielder to suspension a week out from the AFLW finals.

Sheerin has been referred to the tribunal for intentional umpire contact after an incident in the chaotic finish to Saturday night's draw with Essendon.

The hearing will be held late on Tuesday afternoon.

Any ban would be a massive blow for the Tigers, who are sixth and half a game off the double chance with one round before the finals.

Richmond's ladder position will be determined by their home game on Sunday against second-placed Hawthorn. All but one of the games this weekend will shape the top eight.

With less than two minutes left at TIO Stadium, Sheerin pushed Essendon opponent Georgia Nanscawen at a ball-up.

Nanscawen collided with the field umpire, who fell over. If the incident had been graded as careless, Sheerin would have been fined.

The umpire quickly returned to her feet. But footage shows Sheerin also pushing Nanscawen - essentially trying to use the umpire as a screen - at two stoppages before the incident that prompted the charge.

Sheerin was best afield at the inaugural Dreamtime in Darwin clash and the two-time All-Australian is one of Richmond's most important players.

The match has taken a heavy toll. Essendon ruck Steph Wales ruptured an ACL, while Richmond's Sarah Hosking ended the game on crutches and with an icepack on her right hamstring after she also went down late.