Two clubs have received heavy sanctions, while the AFL is wary of how Tasmania’s entry could impact game length.

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TWO MORE CLUBS SANCTIONED FOR UMP CONTACT

Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs have both been whacked with $20,000 fines for their players continuing to make careless contact with umpires.

The AFL’s desperate attempt to stop the trend saw them warn clubs they can be sanctioned when their players are involved in five incidents in a season.

Gold Coast was fined $20,000 last month and now the Dockers and Bulldogs have been sanctioned with the fine excluded from the soft cap.

Joel Freijah and Andrew Brayshaw were the players to tip their clubs over the limit after their respective Round 19 breaches.

Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle at Marvel Stadium. Shai Bolton of the Dockers out of the middle . Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia

LYON’S CHEEKY WHACK FOR BAZ

So much for Quiet Ross.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has whacked Bailey Smith after the Geelong star’s post-game criticism of how Marcus Windhager was used last week.

Windhager ran with Smith in the second half as the Cats smashed the Saints in the Round 19 opener, with Smith calling for Windhager to be given more pure midfield time given his talent.

Lyon quipped that Windhager “put him to sleep” though Smith had 18 disposals and a goal in the half.

“It’s interesting. He’s been playing halfback, I think he’s had two tagging jobs all year, and Bailey was running rampant with no-one on him. And then Windy put him to sleep,” Lyon said on Thursday.

“The horse trying hardest in the race is self-interest, right? Bailey often talks without thinking, doesn’t he? At least he’s not sending emojis out on texts this time.”

SIMPSON’S HINT ON WHEN ‘REAL STUFF’ BEGINS WITH BLUES PROCESS

Carlton coaching selection panellist Adam Simpson says the Blues will begin formally interviewing candidates for the vacant senior coach role this week.

The Blues are on the hunt for a new coach after Michael Voss’ departure from the role in May.

Rival assistant coaches Corey Enright (St Kilda), James Kelly (Essendon) and Jaymie Graham (Fremantle) are among the hot chances to land the gig, while current interim Blues boss Josh Fraser will also be considered – should he formally put his hand up for the role – after a promising 7-2 run.

John Longmire addresses coaching future | 02:05

Asked on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 when the Blues would ramp up their formal process, Simpson said: “We’re catching up this week, just to go through what the final numbers look like and then we get going in the next month or so. Haven’t had a lot of direction, but it starts this week.”

“The list is getting whittled down to … I don’t know how many will be there in the last group, but by the time I get in front of them, it’s the real stuff.”

Fraser has consistently said he doesn’t feel he’s ready for the senior coaching role and is yet to put his hand up.

But Herald Sun chief football writer Jay Clark reported on Fox Footy it’d “come as a major surprise if he turned down an opportunity to present for the job”.

‘WILL DEFINITELY BE AN ISSUE’: AFL’S BIG GAME LENGTH HINT

AFL football boss Greg Swann says the league will assess reducing quarter length as it prepares for Tasmania’s entry and, potentially, an increased number of games.

The Devils’ entry into the competition in 2028 has sparked discussions with clubs this year around alternative fixture concepts and competition structures, including the possibility of 20-game seasons with a three-week in-season tournament.

One less radical option is increasing clubs’ home and away games to 24, which would see each team have 11 home games and 11 away games, as well as two ‘neutral rounds’ such as Gather Round.

AFL bringing in more new technology | 01:14

Swann on Wednesday night was directly if there was a chance the league would look to cut game time in the wake of the 24-game season discussion.

“We did change those rules and we’ve knocked off three minutes per game. But is it enough? Probably not,” Swann told Channel 7.

“When in a couple of years time, obviously when Tassie come in, if we go from 22 to 24 games, that will definitely be an issue that you will have to reduce the game time. So we’ll have a look at that, perhaps in the off-season.

“You certainly don’t want (games) getting longer, that’s for sure. So we’ll have a look at those things.”