Dangerfield lashes out at 'pathetic' tactic

Patrick Dangerfield has backed the AFL's jumper punch crackdown, labelling players who employ the niggling tactic as pathetic.

The AFL has signalled jumper punches and punches to the body will no longer be tolerated after a spate of incidents in recent weeks had gone largely unpunished.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon, Port Adelaide counterpart Ken Hinkley and Adelaide's Don Pyke have all come out in support of the crackdown.

As has Geelong star Dangerfield, who is regularly a target of opponents.

"I’m not a fan of the jumper punch, it’s pretty pathetic really,” Dangerfield told KIIS radio on Thursday.

“Players use it to their advantage in terms of what they can get away with. I don’t think it demonstrates the toughness of a payer really. I think it’s pretty pathetic.

“It really annoys me when incidents happen way off the ball.

"I just think it shows that players engaging in whatever act it is they’re just not as competent as other players and they’re using it as an excuse to cover up their own inability to get the job done around the contest.”

Fremantle's Lyon said the AFL's fresh stance would set an example for lower leagues - but he believed it could have come sooner.

"I'm really conscious of the fact that what you see at senior level, you're going to see at the grades below," Lyon told reporters in Perth.

"My personal opinion is some of the stuff (punching incidents) could have been taken care of. I think the rules are there for striking.

"Clearly, the MRP (match review panel) are saying there's some grey and they would like it tightened up.

"There's no doubt we're all on notice. We've all had amnesty ... forewarned is forearmed."

Crows coach Pyke understood the AFL's reasoning but said the sport was, by nature, aggressive.

"You don't want undisciplined acts but you also have to understand this is a man's game," Pyke told reporters in Adelaide.

"There are things that are happening on the footy field which are going to get players, who are already in a highly charged and emotive state.

"So we want to be playing aggressive footy but we understand where the line is."

with AAP