The AFL are set to fine West Coast after their ruckmen used mobile phones at three-quarter time in Saturday's loss to North Melbourne.

The league will send the Eagles a please-explain letter.

Coach John Worsfold said after the game at Etihad Stadium that Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui were talking to ruck coach Simon Eastaugh, who was not at the game.

But the league does not allow players to use mobile phones on the ground during games or at the on-field breaks, because of obvious concerns about betting.

The league could fine West Coast a maximum of $25,000, but the penalty is likely to be no more than $10,000.

On Sunday, Western Bulldogs David Smorgon also commented on the issue, saying it was not a good look.

In his pre-lunch speech at Etihad Stadium, Smorgon also spoke about the ugly quarter-time confrontation on Friday night during the St Kilda-Collingwood game.

"We don't want to see players using mobile phones during games, or at quarter time or three quarter time, we don't want to see that," Smorgon said.

"We don't want to see verbal stoushes or verbal discussions between players and officials and coaches at any time, we don't want to see that.

"We all have a view, that's the fantastic amazing thing about AFL football ...what's going to happen because two Eagles blokes were taking instruction, allegedly from their ruck coach?

Smorgon mocked West Coast over the fact that Eastaugh was not at the match.

"The Eagles are struggling, they can't afford their ruck coach to fly over and see the game live, he has to watch it on (television) and talk to his players during the three quarter time break."

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