“The dangerous tackle is like a modern phenomenon because the tackling intent and ferociousness and aggressiveness of the modern tackling is really ferocious. We have to make tackling a little bit more controlled than it has been recently.

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“I have often said now you can tackle ferociously because, guess what, if it’s a bit high, it’s probably not going to be free kick, if I fall into his back, that’s not going to be free kick, either. We have encouraged the tackler to be ferocious and aggressive, and I reckon the next phase the tackle is going to have to be much more controlled, otherwise the tackle will go the way of the bump. You will still be able to tackle but if you hurt a player in the tackle, you are liable.”

The AFL has this week distributed a memo to clubs on correct tackling technique. The email showed how players had adjusted their style this season, in a bid to guard against dump or sling tackles, which can cause serious injury.

Geelong great Jimmy Bartel, a candidate for the AFL’s vacant football operations role, said Bontempelli, one of the game’s cleanest players, should not be suspended.

“I just don’t think it was a bump. I don’t think it was a reportable offence. There are accidents that happen on a football field, that’s the nature of the game when you put that many incredibly big people on the field at once, and the pace,” Bartel said.

“When you go back and watch, Marcus Bontempelli is an incredibly talented person, skilful person. I think he would know how to execute a bump.”

Match review officer Michael Christian will release his findings on Saturday evening.

Beveridge said players were facing “variables” when it came to what size player they were tackling as shown by Butler’s ill-fated tackle on Blakey.

“Young Blakey hasn’t got the broadest of shoulders so if he [Butler] is tackling a ruckman then maybe his head doesn’t hit the ground,” Beveridge said.

“So you can be a bit stiff depending on who you tackle as well, there are all those variables. I’m a big believer that when we look to evolve, that we really focus on intent to actually hurt a player.

“It should be the civil test, on the balance of probabilities, was it 51 per cent that he wasn’t trying to hurt him? Then that should be OK because there are accidents in sport. It’s a challenge in our game at the moment.

“A video package came out from the AFL around tackles and, ultimately, you choose whether you show the players because, they are just going to be unlucky if we keep going on the way we are.”

The Saints are weighing up whether to challenge the one-match ban at the tribunal, coming as AFL greats Dermott Brereton and Luke Hodge said on Saturday it was likely Butler’s ban would be upheld at a possible appeal. Butler’s tackle was deemed careless, medium impact and high contact.

While Blakey crashed into the turf, he was not concussed. He was subbed off because of an ongoing toe issue, the Swans said.

Beveridge, meanwhile, said he had “no real comment” on the Bontempelli incident.

“In regards to Marcus, I have no real comment. It was just one of those 50-50 balls and they were [both] going for it – so it’s a bit different,” Beveridge said.

Power coach Ken Hinkley said Houston had reported no health issues during the game, and he felt players were adjusting to taking dangerous and reckless collisions out of the game.

“I think players, by the week, you can see the tackle attempts, you can see they are being more careful,” Hinkley said.

“The game is always played quite ferocious and we don’t need to make too much of taking contact out of the game as these blokes just go crazy at each other, they are pretty brave in how they play.”

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