League lays down the law on grand final repercussions

The AFL has cautioned Collingwood and Brisbane about the harsher consequences the AFL Tribunal will mete out to players for on-field violence in the grand final.

The league's move follows last year's warning to Essendon and Brisbane of the severe penalties for players found guilty of reportable offences from the grand final.

AFL football operations manager Andrew Demetriou has sent an advisory note to both clubs to uphold the standard of clean play in the AFL's "showpiece game for the year (which) must not be allowed to be decided by on-field violence as against the skill of the teams".

The practice has stemmed from the aftermath of the 2000 grand final between Essendon and Melbourne, when offenders cited for serious incidents served all or most of their penalties in the pre-season competition.

Michael Long's shuddering knockout of Troy Simmonds - which earned him a four-match ban - resulted in him missing only one regular game while Dean Wallis served out his three-match penalty for striking Brad Green, a blow that resulted in the young Demon being taken to hospital, before the start of the home-and-away season.

Then-Demon Brent Grgic and Bomber Dustin Fletcher also worked off two-match suspensions in the pre-season competition.

Collingwood football manager Neil Balme last night said that while the players would be told of the reminder, it was not a factor in Collingwood's style of play.

"I don't think the players are idiots. It's never been an issue for us; all we do is play," Balme said.

"From our players' point of view, we'll advise them, but I don't think it's a big issue.

"There's no evidence that our blokes have ever played that way, not that we've played in a grand final for a long time."