The Brisbane Lions and Carlton have been cleared of any wrongdoing despite their medical officers treating two gruesome injuries in full view of the public on the weekend.

The AFL on Monday contacted the Lions and Blues to ask why Troy Selwood and Chris Judd were not taken directly into the rooms before they were treated for injuries which would have turned the stomachs of some spectators.

Under AFL rules, clubs are discouraged from treating injuries in front of spectators and television viewers.

Lions doctors wasted no time in popping Selwood's dislocated shoulder back into its joint in Launceston on Sunday, right in front of shocked fans.

Judd on Friday night had some of the patch-up work on his broken and badly-bloodied nose performed on the sidelines, close enough for fans and television viewers to get a clear look, before Carlton doctors took him down the race at Etihad Stadium.

AFL football operations general manager Adrian Anderson confirmed the league had asked for answers from both clubs, but said the Lions and Blues had provided sound explanations.

"With the Selwood one, we've received an explanation saying they needed to provide treatment right at the time on the sidelines," Anderson said.

"With (Judd) it sounds like the appropriate medical procedure was followed."

Meanwhile, Anderson said the AFL could yet introduce substitutes on benches before this season is out.

Several coaches have called for measures to be introduced to make it fairer when sides lose players to game-ending injuries early in matches.

Substitute players on the bench, a cap on the number of interchanges and even the re-introduction of the mid-season draft are some of the measures that have been suggested.

Anderson said clubs could lodge submissions that would be considered by the laws of the game committee.

"It's too premature to say (substitutes) will be introduced, but there is a chance it will be looked at if it's raised by the clubs," he said.

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