The AFL is backing in its crackdown on umpire abuse but admits some dissent decisions have been paid incorrectly.
The state of umpiring has become the hot topic from the Easter weekend of football as players and fans were often confused by interpretations.
Free kicks and 50-metre penalties are now paid for the slightest hint of demonstrative behaviour shown towards umpires, including players throwing their arms up in frustration.
But the AFL's football operations manager Brad Scott said it was vital the league showed leadership on umpire abuse for all levels of football.
The AFL estimates it is 6000 umpires short at community level.
"Our message to players is that when an umpire pays a free kick, accept it and move on and our message to umpires is we encourage you to continue to pay free kicks or 50-metre penalties where players have shown dissent," Scott said.
"We will stay the course on this and acknowledge there have been instances across this season where we have missed free kicks for dissent.
"We commend players overall for the shift in behaviour this season and we are already seeing that reflected at the community level."
Brisbane Lions forward Lincoln McCarthy admitted it was taking players time to adjust to the crackdown.
"It is not lost on us that the elite level has a unique leadership role in the community, and with that role comes responsibility," McCarthy said on Tuesday.
"Takes a while to break out of habits.
"We've just got to keep reminding each other and keep self-reflecting on how we're behaving out there.
"It really hurts you and it even showed yesterday in the Geelong-Hawthorn game that sometimes it can be a really small gesture and go pretty poorly against you.
"We're definitely trying not to take anything out on the umpires."
