For AFL players on Twitter, there is a new pitfall to using social media - the threat to your hip pocket.

The AFL has issued suspended fines to both Melbourne and two of their players who "tweeted" their disapproval of teammate Jack Trengove's ban.

Ricky Petterd and James Frawley were among several players critical via social media of the three-match suspension given to Trengove for his slinging tackle on Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield - which the Demons failed to overturn on appeal.

They received $2,500 fines suspended for two years, while the Demons were given a $5,000 suspended fine.

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said he didn't understand the attraction of Twitter to players, whose SMS-style messages can reach the mobile phones or computers of anyone who wants to read what they have to say.

He warned players who use social media, that unfair criticism of the AFL and its tribunal is overstepping the mark.

"I am one of those cynics; 'Go to the toilet, Twitter everybody. Been to the toilet, run out of toilet paper'. I don't get it," Demetriou told Melbourne radio station 3AW earlier on Friday.

"We understand the use of Twitter has become more prevalent, more common, and it's now an accepted form of social media.

"But it doesn't mean that unfair and unreasonable criticism should be tolerated because it's a new form of media.

"We encourage free speech. There's no issue with that.

"But if it's unreasonable, we'll have an issue with it."

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade believes players have more to lose than gain by using social media.

"I can't believe players would want to be on Twitter and want to be on Facebook," Eade said.

"Call me an old man and that sort of thing, but the dangers of it and the risks in it for an AFL player, I don't see the reward in actually taking that risk.

"Words taken out of context, someone looks at your pictures and you say something that's there in black and white, you may as well put it in the paper.

"I don't think players in general have got that concept yet ... I just think it's a dangerous element."

But Eade and the Dogs say they haven't contemplated a ban on social media, believing they provide enough education to help those who want to use Twitter and Facebook navigate it.

"Most of our players don't use Twitter. We educate and talk them through and there's been some sessions this year on that already," Eade said.

"If I was a footballer, I wouldn't be taking any risks on it."

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said he would not restrict his players' use of Twitter despite the AFL's sanctions on his club and players.

"They were a bit frustrated and they were just supporting Jack," Bailey said.

"The AFL were concerned with some of the language that was used ... but you've got young men who were fairly disappointed in the decision and it was probably just them being open and honest. "I'm not going to put them in a straightjacket and stop them from tweeting, they've just got to be smarter in how they communicate their message."

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