DANGEROUS tackles are under the microscope as the AFL conducts its annual review of the tribunal process.

One of the main points of the review is the grading of tackles that see a player's head make contact with the turf after being slung to the ground with one or both arms pinned.

Geelong's Darren Milburn sparked debate on the issue with his tackle that left Tiger Shane Edwards groggy in round 18.

The veteran Cat was initially offered a three-game ban by the match review panel, but his club had the penalty downgraded to one game at the tribunal after arguing Milburn had not made contact with Edwards' head.

"Is one right? I don't know," panel chairman Andrew McKay said in Thursday's Herald Sun, before adding he was delighted with the drop in head-high clashes in 2008.

"It's been good for the game. Parents can now let their kids play in the juniors knowing they are not going to be wheeled out in a wheelchair."

The round-18 case prompted tribunal chairman David Jones to encourage the League to introduce a rule that covers what he described as "a dangerous tackle, a throw tackle or a spear tackle".

Under current rules, such a tackle falls into the rough conduct category, but a separate grading is under consideration with AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson making it clear in a memo to the 16 clubs that the head remained sacrosanct.

"As part of the review, we will be revisiting the adequacy of sanctions for this offence," Anderson said.

"What constitutes a dangerous tackle and are the points [under the rough conduct category] sufficient?"

McKay is meeting with AFL clubs to gather their feedback as part of the ongoing review.