Suns star Ben King says Matt Rowell 'singled out' by umpire contact crackdown, as ex-ump issues warning

Gold Coast star Ben King believes teammate Matt Rowell has been "singled out" by the AFL over the mid-season crackdown on umpire contact.

AFL chief Andrew Dillon announced clubs, as well as players, will be fined for those who continue to re-offend, while players who don't change their behaviour could be sent straight to the tribunal and potentially suspended.

Rowell has been fined four times this season for making careless contact with an umpire, mostly due to positioning himself at stoppages behind umpires in order to use them to create space from his opponent.

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However, he isn't the only player who has received multiple fines, with St Kilda pair Hunter Clark and Jack Macrae also on four offences.

King believes Rowell is the only one who has been targeted, however.

"There's been a little bit of chat (at the club). He definitely has been singled out", King told 3AW on Wednesday night.

"There's probably a number of players in similar boats, but he's handled it pretty well.

"He's aware that he can't go around hitting umpires and it's something that can't be in the game, he's taken it in his stride and he's focused on the main thing which is playing good football for us.

"It is an interesting one."

Rowell however was defiant in the wake of the crackdown's announcement, saying he wouldn't be changing the way he attacks stoppages.

His coach Damien Hardwick was equally aggressive in his response to the rule tweak, saying he would be ropeable if Rowell was suspended, adding that Collingwood star Nick Daicos wouldn't receive this treatment.

And it is clear that the star midfielder is continuing to use the umpire to create space for himself at stoppages, with another near-miss taking place during round 17's win over Essendon.

Former AFL umpire 'Razor' Ray Chamberlain was asked on Fox Footy if Rowell is playing a "dangerous game", with the threat of a suspension looming.

"He didn't make any contact, (but) he's still setting up behind the umpire. But I know that Matt's aware of what his responsibilities are," Chamberlain said on Wednesday night.

"He is (playing a dangerous game), and ultimately, he gets to make that choice. I think, for the betterment of everybody out there, it'd be wonderful if he gave another metre, let the umpire get out of the road so he can get on and play the game."

The AFL has never explicitly said that Rowell, Clark or Macrae would be suspended for a fifth offence, only that the tribunal would have the discretion to use that as a penalty if they deemed it necessary.

Rowell was fined $5,000 for his fourth offence.

Former Essendon coach James Hird believes the league should utilise suspensions in order to change player behaviour.