'No consequence': AFL greats take aim over Ben Cunnington punch

It might not be enough to draw a sixth fine but North Melbourne veteran Ben Cunnington is under fire after throwing another closed fist at an opponent.

But he’s not the only person in hot water, with the AFL accused of letting an edict slide.

Cunnington avoided a suspension for Saturday's game against Essendon after he was charged with striking St Kilda's Jade Gresham last weekend.

The $5000 sanction handed down brought his season tally to $15,000.

Likely to be sent to the tribunal as a repeat offender if he is charged with another offence, Cunnington toed the line at Docklands against the Bombers.

The 28-year-old gave away a free kick when he collided with Essendon's Zach Merrett along the boundary late in the second quarter.

Cunnington swung his arm around Merrett, making contact with his shoulder before it rose to give away a head-high free.

He was not put on report and the closed fist hit the ball in Merrett's arms but AFL greats in commentary condemned Cunnington.

"The optic isn't great, is it?" Nick Riewoldt said on Fox Sports.

While Cameron Mooney acknowledged the ball was punched rather than Merrett, Garry Lyon suggested Cunnington would only learn after a ban.

"He hasn't learned his lesson because there's been no consequence apart from the dollars in his pocket," Lyon said.

Riewoldt expanded on his thoughts at half-time, declaring the AFL can be held responsible.

"We're probably not talking about it as in depth as we are if not for (Cunnington's) form leading in," He said.

"Last week he does something similar, he cops a fine. The AFL talked a big game at the start of the year about stamping these sorts of incidents out but we haven't seen it, so the behaviour continues."