The AFL has promised a crackdown on the sort of contact that fired Western Bulldogs forward Barry Hall to put North Melbourne opponent Scott Thompson in a headlock.

Hall on Monday escaped suspension - but was fined $4000 - for grabbing Thompson in retaliation to being knocked over by the North fullback while tying his bootlaces at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

AFL umpires boss Jeff Gieschen said Thompson's contact was outside the spirit of the game and that the league would not stand for players making prohibited contact with opponents off the ball.

Gieschen referred to a memo the league sent to clubs last year, which he termed "a line in the sand" about prohibited contact.

"We want guys to have their focus on the football, there are enough areas of the game through tackling, shepherding, through sheer contest for the football, where players can play hard and strong in that area," he told AAP.

"But when players are standing off the ball, minding their own business, watching the play, tying up their bootlace, they should not be made contact with.

"It is clearly not in the spirit of the law.

"The game is as fierce and as contestable as it ever has been, when we're seeing teams have over 100 tackles a game, it tells you how physical our game is now.

"We want players to focus on that side of things - the contest - not being silly when the ball is outside the area and just bumping, knocking into blokes."

Hall applied a 15-second headlock but escaped suspension when his rough conduct charge was thrown out by the match review panel because there was not sufficient force to warrant the charge.

Hall was instead charged with misconduct, and the panel chose to fine him $4000, which he can reduce to $3000 by pleading guilty on Tuesday.

Hall would have been suspended had the panel found him guilty of rough conduct, as he has 96.25 carry-over points against his name and would have copped extra loading for his poor judicial record, which stands at 26 games suspended in 15 seasons.

Thompson escaped penalty when his two reports were dropped.

The panel ruled Thompson did not wrestle Hall because he was in a headlock and that the force of his headbutt did not constitute a reportable offence.

Gieschen acknowledged Thompson's behind-the-play contact raised questions about whether a fourth field umpire was needed in games.

He said the umpiring department was "extremely disappointed" umpire Matt Stevic missed Thompson's contact.

But Stevic was not at fault because he was monitoring a stoppage up the field.

While both men can play this weekend, the stoush caused bad blood between the Bulldogs and North.

After the game Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade called for umpires to provide Hall with better protection, said Hall was entitled to defend himself when "besieged" by opponents. He also accused North players of taking "cheap shots" throughout the game.

North coach Brad Scott initially refused to respond but on Monday said his counterpart's remarks were "categorically incorrect and disappointing from such an experienced coach.

"They strike at the heart and integrity of our playing group, they are factually incorrect and are without foundation," Scott said in a statement.

The match review panel also cleared another two Kangaroos of any wrongdoing.

It threw out Scott McMahon's report for kneeing Liam Picken because there was minimal contact and could not determine whether Michael Firrito bumped Daniel Giansiracusa in the head.

Scott defended Thompson's right to niggle opponents.

"There is no doubt he plays an antagonistic style of football but full-forwards are not supposed to enjoy playing on fullbacks, and I will not stand by and allow Scott's character to be assassinated because of the reaction of an opposition player," he said.

But Gieschen said umpires were aware of Thompson's tactics.

"We are aware he crosses the line from time to time, it's just important that he understands there's a line there he shouldn't cross," he said.

Meanwhile, Sydney coach Paul Roos said he had pleaded with umpires, when Hall was a Swan, about his getting a fairer go in marking contests, but never in off-the-ball incidents.

"You'd hope, if any free kicks, whether it's Hally or any of our forwards or any of our midfielders, if they're there you'd hope they're paid and that players get protected no matter who they are," Roos said.

Hall retired from Sydney last year after he was suspended for striking Adelaide's Ben Rutten and was later traded to the Bulldogs when he decided he wanted to resume playing.

Eade said the Bulldogs would have been disappointed had Hall been suspended, and said the club would have challenged a ban at the tribunal.

But Eade on Monday did not want to respond to Scott's statement, although he refuted claims Hall had hold of Thompson around the neck.

He said Hall had hold of Thompson around the jaw.

"No way known was it around his neck," Eade told the Ten Network.

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