West Coast have been issued a ‘please explain’ by the AFL over an offensive gesture made by second-year star Harley Reid in his side’s loss to Brisbane.

The marquee teenager was a target for the Gabba crowd on Sunday and playfully flashed his middle finger to Lions fans after one of them had offered him a packet of tissues.

Reid escaped a fine from the match review officer, who could have sanctioned the Eagles midfielder on Monday for making an “obscene gesture” under league guidelines.

But officials will instead try to obtain some context around the incident before deciding whether Reid’s actions warrant a penalty.

After his side’s 19-point defeat, West Coast coach Andrew McQualter urged AFL pundits not to “bash the theatre out of the game” by over-criticising Reid.

The 19-year-old struggled in a heavy first-up loss to Gold Coast and finished with 15 disposals, seven tackles and six clearances against the Lions, but also gave away seven free kicks.

He had an altercation with Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko and showed his middle finger to the crowd during the final quarter after a tangle with Oscar McInerney near the boundary.

“There’s a fair bit of commentary about Harley all the time, so last week was not necessarily different,” McQualter said post-match.

“We try and bash the theatre out of this game, don’t we?

“He’s just having a bit of fun and sometimes that’s good for the game, I think.”

Melbourne veteran Jack Viney was given a $1500 fine for misconduct against North Melbourne ruck Tristan Xerri.

Viney’s penalty can be reduced to $1000 with an early guilty plea.