The AFL has put players and the match review panel on notice over ugly "jumper punches", warning of a "reset" in how such incidents will be assessed.

However, league bosses have stepped back from any potential rule changes, putting the onus on the MRP to enforce existing laws.

League football operations boss Simon Lethlean on Tuesday said

the MRP had the power to stop players disguising punches by grabbing an opponent's jumper, or punching an opponent in the stomach and escaping suspension on force and intent measures.

The issue again flared during Sunday's heated clash between Melbourne and North Melbourne.

"My view is that I don't like the current practice of on-field punches by players. I am strong on that view. As of this weekend's matches, players and clubs are on notice that we won't tolerate it," Lethlean said on Tuesday.

"The MRP is well aware of my views and the views of the AFL of this. I also believe we don't need to make any changes to the rules or the guidelines for the MRP to implement our views.

"It's a tough job for the MRP - the broad performance of the MRP has been strong over the last two or three years and they have my full faith and support. But ongoing, players and clubs are on notice that we will not accept on-field punches of the nature that we have seen in the last few weeks and we are resetting and making that clear to players."

Lethlean had admitted there may have been a reluctance to suspend players for low-level offences but that would change as gut and jumper punches were not a part of the game.

He had flagged making immediate rule changes "to give the MRP the equipment by which to be able to classify whether for more forceful contact or for more intent" but the AFL maintains there is enough room under the current laws to act should players continue to dare to punch.

Geelong great Jimmy Bartel, a MRP member, had called on the league to give the five-man panel greater powers and to even include a category for "non-football acts", such as punching. He claimed the table of offences was too narrow and did not allow for jumper punching to be punished severely enough.

The unsavoury action has been under scrutiny in recent weeks, especially after Richmond captain Trent Cotchin was let off with a $1000 fine for jumper-punching Fremantle playmaker Lachie Neale in round eight.

The hit appeared to affect Neale for a long period during the game and he would finish with 23 disposals, well down on his usual output.

For years, players have generally been able to get away with landing one on an opponent's chin as long as they had a handful of jumper while they did so.

And North Melbourne midfielder Ben Cunnington could also count himself lucky after he escaped suspension for punching Melbourne's Bernie Vince in the stomach.

AFL supremo Gillon McLachlan said on Monday that he did not like the look of punches of any kind and Lethlean confirmed his boss' concerns.

"Across the last few years, broadly, the MRP has done a good job in classifying on-field incidents in the way they have been directed to," Lethlean said.

"Clearly, the deterrent of fines is not stopping on-field punching in various forms and we want to stamp that out."

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said a "punch is a cheap shot".

"We had a bit of a melee situation that didn't flare up too much in the last quarter [against Hawthorn]. If jumper punching was off the agenda, I think it would have looked a little different. It probably wouldn't have been as willing as it ended up becoming," he said.

"I think it's there in the MRP, the idea of what's intentional and what is not. A punch is a cheap shot so remove the cheap shots from the game."

with Sam McClure