The AFL appears set to reject Hawthorn's push for a review of the contentious bump rule that earned forward Lance Franklin a suspension and nearly sparked a legal challenge.

Hawthorn remain disappointed that Franklin was suspended for his bump on Richmond's Ben Cousins last Saturday night, as his two-game ban keeps him out of Saturday's must-win game against Essendon and an elimination final if the Hawks beat the Bombers.

Franklin was found guilty of rough conduct at the tribunal on Tuesday night and lost an appeal on Thursday night.

The reigning premiers were set to become the first club in over a decade to take a judicial matter further, until deciding on Friday morning against appealing at the Victorian Supreme Court.

But Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said the club would urge the AFL to review the bumping rule to ensure the legitimate hip and shoulder remains part of the game.

Franklin kept his arm tucked into his side when he bumped Cousins, but he made contact with his head and the Tigers midfielder was left concussed.

The bumping rule was tightened during the pre-season, after Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell was suspended for four games for his bump on West Coast's Patrick McGinnity, which left the Eagle with a broken jaw. Maxwell was cleared on appeal.

The AFL amended the definition of the bump after that case to effectively outlaw all high contact, even if accidental.

Kennett said Franklin's suspension set a precedent that "runs the risk of changing the conduct of the game forever", and hoped the AFL would seriously consider the Hawks' submission.

"If it doesn't change the rule then the likelihood is we are going to see a lot of players suspended in the years ahead," Kennett said.

"You now have a precedent.

"In law once you have a precedent there is no room for variation.

"If the head touches another player in a collision, even if it's accidental, as the law says, you're out. One week, two weeks, four weeks, you're gone."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said the fair bump remained one of the game's great features and called for clarification.

"I was under the original impression ... it was more so for the protection of the head when a guy was intentionally trying to take a player out and also protection of the head when a guy had his head over the ball," Clarkson said.

But AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou sounded unlikely to change the rules, as the law was changed to protect the head and neck of players and had proved successful.

"People can bang on about the game's lost the bump ... it's complete nonsense," he said.

"We've had in two years on our medical survey the lowest neck and head injuries we've ever had and if that's the by-product of this, so be it."

Demetriou told Fairfax Radio one incident would not prompt change and said the issue had been highlighted given the finals were so close.

He gained support from Adelaide coach Neil Craig, who was "pretty clear" on what players could and could not do.

"Stay away from the head, crystal clear," Craig said.

"Intentional, not intentional, bump, tackle, stay away from the head."

Hawthorn maintain Franklin had no time to tackle Cousins, and could have done little else given the size disparity between the players.

Franklin is 196cm and Cousins 179cm.

Kennett insisted the contact was shoulder on shoulder.

Hawthorn are also disappointed Franklin was suspended for a bump, but no action was taken against the Richmond player who punched him in the mouth in a separate incident.

Kennett said Hawthorn abandoned their plan to take the fight to court because it was inappropriate given the matter was sport-related.

"We came very close and last night it would be true to say we were going to the Supreme Court," he said.

"Fortunately we slept on it ... and woke up a little wiser and a little calmer."

Carlton were the last club to take a judicial result to court, when in 1997 they appealed against the severity of the nine-game ban imposed on Greg Williams for pushing an umpire.

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