Western Bulldogs forward Daniel Giansiracusa dreads to think what AFL penalty he would receive if his head clash with Justin Koschitzke happened now.

The Giansiracusa-Koschitzke incident in 2006 highlights how much the AFL has tightened their rules covering head-high contact over the last three years.

In the latest controversy involving a bump or shepherd, Hawthorn are appealing against the two-match suspension handed to their star forward Lance Franklin.

On Saturday night, Franklin concussed Richmond opponent Ben Cousins with a hip-and-shoulder bump.

Once it was established that Franklin's shoulder made contact with Cousins' head, the Hawk was in trouble under the stricter tribunal rules.

Three years ago, the match review panel cleared Giansiracusa for a shepherd that concussed Koschitzke.

"I wouldn't like to do what I did (then) now ... I think I'd be out for five or six probably, even though it was an accidental head clash," Giansiracusa said.

"It's probably a bit more black and white now and you can't go near the head, so I think players know that.

"Unfortunately some guys are taller than others and all that sort of thing.

"Whether it's a good thing for the game, I don't know, because I like the bump but I can also see the AFL's side of not liking to see head injuries and for the young kids coming up and playing too."

The AFL most recently tightened their rules on head-high contact earlier this year, when Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell won his appeal against a suspension for bumping.

The Hawks will go before the league's appeals board on Thursday night, arguing the tribunal verdict was an error of law and "no tribunal acting reasonably could have reached this verdict on the evidence before it."

Hawks football manager Mark Evans also plans to discuss this year's rule change with AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson once the Franklin appeal is decided.

Hawthorn are desperate to have Franklin available for Saturday's round-22 match against Essendon, with the winner to take eighth spot for the finals.

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade had some sympathy for Franklin's plight, but said the latest rule changes were clear-cut.

"You can still bump, but if you bump and you make head contact then it's at your peril really," Eade said.

"Probably Franklin's a little bit unlucky because I don't think that was his sole purpose really to bump him and he was probably a little bit stiff that he had contact to the chin.

"But probably a black and white rule makes it a little bit easier for people."

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey shares a growing concern that the bump is in danger of being forced out of the game.

"Part of the art of playing this game is to catch your opponent unaware, and I just don't think that's taken into consideration," he said.

"The element of contact and how much has been taken out of the game is probably of a little bit of a concern I would say."

"It looks like what we've got to do now is just get our players to tackle."

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