AFL CHIEF executive Gillon McLachlan doesn't see any inconsistency in the League's stance on players making gestures to fans in the stands.

Richmond's Dustin Martin has been fined $2000 after his two-fingered salute towards Collingwood fans last Saturday 

It was actually an activation of a suspended fine for Martin's handcuff gesture, intended to show support for a friend in prison, from 2013.   

Fans have taken to talkback radio and social media questioning why Martin has been sanctioned, but Adam Goodes and Lewis Jetta were not for their indigenous war dances.

McLachlan insisted the actions were very different. 

War cry was Jetta's call for respect

"I think everyone understands what the two-finger salute is actually supposed to mean and what it's about," McLachlan said in his weekly 3AW radio interview.  

"The indigenous war dance, whatever people want to call it, it's come out of an under-16 year-old Boomerangs group of kids, and it was done in indigenous round and it's supposed to be one of celebration.

"I don't think you can draw the links or the parallels."

Asked whether he thought an throwing an imaginary spear was potentially inciting the crowd McLachlan said: "I think if people think the imaginary spear's supposed to be impaling them, maybe."

"People understand the context, it's been clear, it's a celebration and I think that's the distinction."  

"Certainly my view's pretty clear … they're celebrating their culture and their people, and are not intending to incite people."

McLachlan said he had cleared the air with Lachie Henderson, who departed Carlton last week, after initially calling his exit 'undisciplined.'

"I actually ran into Lachie Henderson during the week, and I was really pleased to do so," McLachlan said.   

"The fact he's not playing the last three weeks of footy is regrettable and I don't like it.

"It wasn't supposed to be as personal as it came off towards Lachie."

McLachlan is in Tasmania on Friday for an AFL Commission meeting.