UMPIRES should retain the power to report players during a match, AFL football operations manager Mark Evans says, after the Match Review Panel dismissed a rough conduct charge laid against Geelong's Rhys Stanley.

Stanley was reported in the second quarter of the game against West Coast when he arrived late to a marking contest and his shoulder collected Eagles defender Brad Sheppard's shoulder.

However it became clear after watching the replay that a penalty was unlikely and the MRP subsequently cleared Stanley on Monday.

WATCH: Stanley booked for Sheppard hit

Evans said the umpires still found match-day reports a useful tool when managing a match.

"I think [laying a report] still holds a service for us, particularly in calming things down. Match-day reports are done less and less these days but I think it still holds some sort of value for us," Evans said.

After the game, Geelong coach Chris Scott didn't make clear his view on match-day reports but he wondered aloud about their effect.

"You would hate to think [a report] would take a player's mind off a game for no reason," Scott said.

"It's just hard for the umpires too. It's really hard for the umpires to make that decision in the moment."