The AFL says banning exotic bets would force gambling underground but insists it can keep the code squeaky clean.

As Carlton coach Brett Ratten said he'd sack anyone leaking inside information, the AFL backed its anti-gambling rules to prevail over any corruption.

AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson refused to detail if the league was investigating claims of plunges on exotic bets, amid fears of club insiders leaking sensitive information.

"It's a tricky question whether you should enable first goal betting, for example, to exist," Anderson told reporters in Adelaide.

"If you tried to ban it, as a sport there is no doubt what would happen is it would go underground, such as the illegal betting market in India.

"And that is the worst thing that can happen.

"Because as soon as we lose track with what is happening with the betting, we lose the ability to properly investigate and control it."

Ratten said he'd sack anyone at Carlton leaking information.

"I'd be pretty disappointed if people are, and if they are and I find out, they won't be at our football club," Ratten said in Melbourne.

"Yeah I would (sack them)."

Sydney coach John Longmire revealed AFL boss Andrew Demetriou spoke to the Swans last week about the gambling threat.

"It's something we have seen in other sports and it's something we don't want to get involved in our game," Longmire said in Sydney.

"How we control that, I'm not sure to be honest, because it's very tough when you've got players that have obviously got family and friends and they know what positions they are playing in.

"Do you tell them not to tell anybody else?

"I think that is the difficulty, that is the challenge I think for the whole industry."

While Geelong coach Chris Scott said protecting club tactics was "critically important", the AFL's Anderson said betting agencies told the league of any plunge.

"I don't comment on particular instances of when they do that," Anderson said.

"But every time there is an irregular betting activity, they are required under their agreements to report that to the AFL.

"If they don't, they can lose their licence to bet on AFL.

"What we have in place is agreements with every bookmaker who takes bets on football that they must share their information with us.

"So whenever there is any irregular betting activity, our integrity division looks at those."

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