CARLTON coach Brendon Bolton has reminded his players that staging for free kicks is not on after youngster Blaine Boekhorst was singled out following Sunday’s loss to Sydney, but he is adamant that it is not a trend.

Boekhorst earned a free kick for high contact after appearing to throw his head back after contact to the chest.

Bolton doesn’t believe the free kick was warranted, and said it has been raised with players over the last 24 hours.

“It hasn’t been a trend in our game,” he said.

“It’s not going to be a trend, because we don’t want to be a team that goes into that area.

“We’ve had a reminder, but it’s not a trend. It’s the first time I’ve noticed it and it was brought to my attention in the media. It’s been spoken about — a brief comment — and I wouldn’t think you’d see it from Carlton players.

“Make your own assessment (on whether he was staging), but I think the free kick shouldn’t have been given.”

Bolton said he was sure it was a “one-off”.

media_camera Brendon Bolton says he’s spoken to the Blues after an incident involving Blaine Boekhorst was singled out following the weekend clash with the Swans. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

MEANWHILE, changing the rules is the only way to curb staging, according to two of the game’s biggest names.

Richmond star Jack Riewoldt is the first to admit he has overplayed for a free kick “plenty of times”, but said there is no way to rid the game of it without changing the rules.

“It’s obviously not a free kick (to Boekhorst), but ... the way we get rid of things in AFL footy is we change the rules,” he said on Fox Footy last night.

“We changed the driving of the head rule mid-season last year and we’ve seen less driving of the head because that was a player safety issue.

“If the AFL wants to change this and get a different perception then change the rules.”

Triple-premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis agrees, and admitted he has felt “embarrassed” when he has staged for free kicks in the past.

“I remember I was on (Fox Footy) when Brendon Goddard was on after I took a dive against him to get a free kick and I was embarrassed,” he said.

“Certain players get embarrassed by it, certain players no doubt use it to their advantage and they are very good at it and they get rewarded for it.

“The game, the way the umpires have been told to officiate it, it rewards plays like that,” Lewis said.

“It’s until we change the way we officiate it that you’ll change players’ actions. Until then, players get away with it so why wouldn’t they try and exploit the rules?”

Lewis said Boekhorst “probably went too early on it” which made it more obvious, but conceded “it doesn’t look good”.

As far as he’s concerned, though, it’s a minor problem in AFL.

“Have you ever seen a soccer game?” he asked.