PENALTIES for controversial jumper punches won't become more lenient in finals and players "just need to be disciplined" to avoid suspension, according to AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.
The AFL's recent crackdown on jumper punches returned to the spotlight after Geelong forward Tom Hawkins reluctantly accepted a one-game suspension offered by the Match Review Panel for his hit on Crows midfielder Matt Crouch.
A string of unsightly incidents has led to tougher penalties for jumper punches, but Cats coach Chris Scott has warned of severe backlash if a player misses a Grand Final as a result.
Punch crackdown hasn't hurt Brownlow: Lethlean
However, McLachlan said on Tuesday he was "very comfortable" with the Hawkins decision and said penalties would remain consistent in finals.
"You've just got to apply the same rules. I think the players understand the consequence is higher in a prelim and they just need to be disciplined," McLachlan said.
"It's in the hands of the players, not with us.
"I think that the correction from the MRP is appropriate.
"People got fines last week who wouldn't (previously) have got fines and essentially they were found guilty last week, and I feel very comfortable with the decision they came up with with the Hawkins one as well."
On Monday night, Scott said he understood the AFL's rationale for cracking down on deliberate punches, but noted the potential for controversy if the same higher standard was maintained throughout the finals.
"I'm not defending the (Hawkins) action at all but I will say on the record that I suspect it will go 180 (degrees)," Scott told Fox Footy.
"I think the AFL, by their own admission, are saying that they’re not comfortable with some of the things that have happened over the previous few weeks and want the MRP to change, which they have.
"(But) if we get to prelim final (week) and that gets a week there will be uproar and I will be in that camp.
"I think it was a really smart thing a couple of years ago for the AFL to say that they don’t want players missing (games) for silly things.
"I understand that things get a bit out of control and they need to pull them back a little bit but if you keep chopping and changing like this ... I almost guarantee that in three months we’ll be in this position."
