St Kilda coach Scott Watters admits controversial forward Stephen Milne is judged differently to other AFL players.

Milne was fined $3000 for a homophobic comment directed at Collingwood’s Harry O’Brien in last Saturday’s match at the MCG.

It is the latest in a list of headlines sparked by Milne, and while Watters agreed he needed to be penalised, he said the veteran was subject to more aggravation than most players.

Watters was anxious to point out that Milne was under extraordinary pressure during the match but said that did not excuse his comment.

Asked whether the issue was highlighted because it involved Milne, Watters said: “I have an opinion on that but I’ll keep that to myself.

“Some players are probably judged a little differently to others but that’s life.”

He said the pressure players were under during games was “almost impossible to comprehend.

“One thing that I do check myself on all the time is trying to maintain a perspective, trying to put myself in a player’s shoes – a player that cops an enormous amount of criticism and taunts from opposition supporters, and probably hadn’t received a couple of free kicks to that point that he thought he might,” Watters said.

“I spoke to (Milne) early in the week about some things he probably wasn’t happy with … how you react to getting elbowed in the head and then not receiving a free kick, and all those sorts of things, you still have a responsibility to control your actions.

“Ultimately you have a choice … so regardless whether we think it’s political correctness gone mad, or whatever, you control that as an individual.”

Collingwood star Dale Thomas said there was room for sledging on the AFL field, although he added that Milne had crossed the line last weekend.

Thomas, who earlier this year pointed out a Collingwood supporter for racially vilifying Gold Coast’s Joel Wilkinson, said players had to “pick and choose what you’re sledging about, who you’re sledging to.

“There’s certainly room for some smart comments, but down the lines of what has happened with Harry and also early on in the year, there’s no room for that in the AFL,” Thomas said.

Watters and Richmond coach Damien Hardwick both said on Friday that the boundaries around what was acceptable had tightened from just a few years ago.

Hardwick said the AFL field was now the players’ workplace.

“There are standards we now set,” Hardwick said.

“Ten years ago is a hell of a long time and things have changed enormously on and off the field.

“It’s really important that players adhere to those standards and we’re very much a part of it.”