A former top cop has started investigating allegations an AFL umpire claimed victory after officiating in St Kilda's weekend defeat that was marred by controversial free kicks.

Ex-Victorian and Queensland assistant police commissioner Allan Roberts has kicked off an AFL inquiry into claims umpire Matthew Head said: "Now I know what a victory feels like" after umpiring in the Saints' five-point loss to Fremantle.

St Kilda was beaten by a Dockers side which kicked five goals from free kicks, just days after Saints coach Grant Thomas had made derogatory comments about umpires.

Nine Network television journalist Tony Jones claimed Head made the "victory" comment on a flight back to Melbourne from Perth that night.

Head and fellow umpire Brett Allen, who was with Head when the comment was alleged to have been made, have denied any inappropriate remark was made.

All three have provided evidence to AFL investigations officer Roberts.

The umpiring controversy has deepened further with claims from Collingwood president and Nine Network commentator Eddie McGuire that he heard similar comments from a member of the umpiring party while boarding the same plane.

McGuire told Southern Cross Radio he heard the person say: "'Twenty thousand and four, $20,000 and four', which I obviously took as an inference it's cost Grant Thomas $20,000 and the four points."

Thomas is awaiting punishment from the AFL for his comments about umpires and is expected to cop a five-figure fine and possibly even a suspension.

He said last week the AFL placed umpires on a pedestal and it was "bordering on pathetic" for punishing coaches for speaking out about umpiring standards.

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