The AFL is set to fine Essendon after captain Matthew Lloyd approached the umpires at quarter-time in Sunday night's match against Port Adelaide at Telstra Dome.

As Port smashed Essendon in the first term, Bombers fans became furious with some decisions.

While the free kick count was close, Essendon coach Matthew Knights told Lloyd to ask the umpires about their interpretation of the holding the ball rule.

This followed a strong tackle on Adam Thomson that was not paid as a free kick to the Bombers.

Instead, play continued and Power captain Warren Tredrea kicked a goal soon after.

"I thought it was an excellent tackle - and I thought there was prior opportunity," Knights said.

"I spoke to Matthew, just to go and ask on a clarification, but the umpires sent Matthew away, obviously it had to be after the quarter-time break for that to happen.

"I'm going to have to speak to (umpires boss) Jeff Gieschen, from my perspective ... there doesn't seem to be a holding the ball rule anymore or prior opportunity, it just seems to be that part of the game, you make tackles and even if there is prior opportunity, it's just a restart, a bounce.

"We've just got to adjust to that as a team, we haven't really adjusted to that rule very well."

Four years ago, the AFL changed their rules so no player or official could even enter the centre square at the quarter-time and three quarter-time breaks, let alone approach the umpires.

"I would have assumed it was one of those innocent mistakes, if it was a scenario," Knights said.

"Matthew was going over to speak very rationally and just ask the question on a clarification."

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