The AFL appeals board have forced the league to quickly clarify their rough conduct rules.

The AFL commission endorsed rules changes, reinforcing the league's determination to penalise any player who makes head or neck contact with a bump.

A week ago, new Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell became the first player to successfully appeal against his tribunal verdict under the current system.

The AFL then added an appendix to the player rules which effectively backs how the tribunal originally handled the case.

The three members of the appeals board, all QCs, agreed with Collingwood's submission that no tribunal acting reasonably could have found Maxwell guilty under the circumstances.

"Subsequent to this decision, we have received feedback from the AFL medical officers and also from AFL Medical Officers Association Executive Officer Dr Hugh Seward," said AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson.

"They have confirmed their concern for head and neck injuries in certain 'high risk' on-field situations.

"Both the AFL Medical Officers and the AFL Medical Officers Association continue to recommend that the AFL hold players responsible for head-high contact caused by a bump, where the player laying the bump had a realistic alternative to either contest the ball or tackle."

So the league added a clause to the player rules, saying a bump that makes forceful contact to an opponent's head or neck is a reportable offence if the player could have realistically contested the ball or tackled.

The player can also be guilty of rough conduct if the contact is found to be "unreasonable in the circumstances."

On Friday, the league also released the detailed findings of the appeals board - Peter O'Callagha, former tribunal chairman Brian Collis and John Winneke.

They found the tribunal jury should have looked at whether Maxwell had acted reasonably when he bumped West Coast youngster Patrick McGinnity.

The charge against Maxwell was upheld at the tribunal when the jury ruled that the defender had a realistic alternative to laying a bump.

The contact left McGinnity with a broken jaw, putting him out of action for eight to 12 weeks.

"The board finds that no tribunal acting reasonably could in the circumstances of this case, fail to address the issue of whether Maxwell executed a shepherd in a manner which was reasonable in the circumstances," they wrote.

"Likewise, the tribunal erred in law in failing to address that issue."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP