St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt wants to see AFL umpiring boss Jeff Gieschen facing the media on a weekly basis to explain controversial decisions.

Injured Carlton pair Jeremy Laidler and Marc Murphy are likely to be fined by AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson who’s investigating the duo’s comments on Twitter following Thursday night’s controversial loss to West Coast in Perth.

Gieschen already appears on the league’s website each Tuesday, but Riewoldt says the AFL needs to go further to break down the frustrations of players and fans.

“I understand the argument about free speech. But as a player you know you can’t comment on it so just don’t,” Riewoldt told Seven’s AFL Game Day on Sunday.

“Perhaps something that might appease the players and supporters a little bit … is maybe on a Monday or a Tuesday, the umpiring department came out and put their hand up and said ‘this decision was wrong, this one was wrong’.

“That would appease supporters (and) players. You wouldn’t get this constant antagonistic type messages and tweets that players sometimes put up.”

AFL chief Andrew Demetriou said on Friday the league had zero tolerance for players who bagged umpires on social media.

Murphy tweeted that the umpires had ruined a good game.

Laidler added: “Are you not meant to try and b 1st in at the footy anymore. If u do u will be pinned for holding the ball. SHOCKING!!!”

Both players issued a statement through the club on Friday saying their comments had been unfortunate and poorly worded and they had great respect for umpires.

“I was certainly frustrated and confused by how the rule was being applied, as were the commentators, however it was not meant to be derogatory of the umpire,” Laidler said.

Richmond goalkicking great Matthew Richardson said players should know they can’t comment on umpiring, but he understood their frustration when players attacked the ball and were penalised when they had no chance to dispose of it.

He backed concerns over the free kick paid against Aaron Joseph which led to West Coast’s first goal of the second quarter to Jack Darling.

“The umpire said ‘you dived on the ball, you’ve got to get it out’,” Richardson said.

“He actually didn’t even dive on it. He took possession and went to ground.

“He tried to get rid of the ball straight away.

“It was a really harsh decision, definitely.”