ALASTAIR Clarkson has got his way, with the league set to introduce stricter measures on blocking in marking contests.

But despite Monday’s meeting between Clarkson and McLachlan, the Hawks coach had no influence over the email that was sent out on Tuesday.

Foxfooty.com.au can reveal the contents of an email that was sent to all 18 clubs on Tuesday, barely 24 hours after Clarkson met with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan to voice his concerns regarding the tactic.

Clarkson’s meeting with McLachlan was later described as “unnecessary and unwarranted” by John Longmire, who was incensed by Clarkson’s suggestion the Swans defenders got away with “blue murder” on Friday night.

Finals Week 1

LIVE stream the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week trial >. If you’re overseas, you can still stream it LIVE on Watch AFL >

It’s understood an email is sent around to clubs every month from the game analysis department at league headquarters. In each of these emails, overall trends are outlined, key stats are given and instructions from Hayden Kennedy and Grant Williams in coaching the umpires are detailed.

Steve Hocking has formed a game analysis department within football operations in order to track trends and also report back to clubs and the new competition committee. James Podsiadly, David Rath and Brett Munro are part of the team.

The Round 4 update also detailed blocking in marking contests as an area umpires would monitor closely.

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE FOX FOOTY PODCAST BELOW, OR TAP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES

But the Round 8 memo had examples of each of the following scenarios:

— Wrapping your arms around an opponent

— Placing hands in the back

— Taking your eyes off the ball and coming off your line

— Umpires being coached to look forward of the play

Tuesday’s email also detailed that blocking in marking contests had risen 28 per cent from 2015 to 2018.

Umpires are looking for the following cues regarding blocking:

— A player who is coming off his line to prevent an opposition player from genuinely attempting to contest the mark.

— A player who is using their arms in a shepherding motion.

— A player who is not contesting the ball (eyes for the ball vs. eyes on the opposition). Umpires are being coached to look forward of play and to ensure that players making the ball their prime objective should be permitted to contest.

– Umpires are looking for players that are held in the contest, in particular with arms

around the opposition.

Jarryd Roughead and Alastair Clarkson of the Hawks. Source: Getty Images

If a kick comes from the wing into the forward 50, the umpire in the forward 50 has been instructed to keep his or her eyes firmly planted on the marking contest, rather than the ball that’s flying in.

The adjudicating umpire in the midfield is instructed to ‘hold his eyes’ to check for late contact on the kicker.

In theory, this friendly reminder to umpires is designed to keep defenders more accountable and, by extension, allow forwards a better run at the ball.

In other words, it’s a crackdown that will appease Clarkson following his public comments over the last few weeks, including Friday night after the match and Saturday on 3AW radio.

Although blocking in marking contests filled the majority of the memo to clubs, there were also other stats and graphs shown.

The Round 4 memo had information regarding the protected area. This was not repeated in Tuesday’s email.

A free kick discrepancy analysis was shown for each team, while a graph illustrated the free-kick differentials for each club.

There was a ‘benchmark’ number clubs could compare themselves to in regards to how many free kicks they give away and receive.

There was also a reminder about making contact with umpires, reiterating (via screenshots) where an umpire is supposed to run around the ground and after ball-ups.

“Last quarter we go inside 50, Roughead takes a mark and they pay a free kick for a block,” Clarkson said after the match.

“And Sydney block better than any other team in the competition in their back end for (Dane) Rampe and (Heath) Grundy to take those marks.

“One minute later, that ball goes into the top of the goalsquare (to) Rampe, Grundy and Roughead — no block paid.

“Why? Top of the goalsquare — I’m not going to pay that free kick. Those swings and roundabouts can affect the margin of the game some times, and we didn’t get them.

“They’re very sophisticated with the way, but at different stages they’re getting away with blue murder too.”

Speaking on Monday, Sydney coach John Longmire responded to foxfooty.com.au’s report that the Hawks coach and league CEO had met for breakfast.

The 2012 premiership coach, who played alongside Clarkson at North Melbourne for eight years, described the catch-up as “unnecessary and unwarranted.”

“After the game it can be a bit difficult, but then to follow it up on Saturday and then again this morning,” Longmire told reporters.

“It’s a bit unusual. I’m not sure whether it was under the guise of the charter of the game or what it was. But it was unusual and unnecessary I’d suggest.

“We’ve had a couple of exchanges and we probably agree to disagree on this one. In the end we’ve all got passionate thoughts on the game.

“There is a time and a place to have those discussions and when you’re in the heat of the season, particularly after a loss, I just don’t think it’s appropriate to put it on the agenda the way he did. It’s unnecessary and unwarranted.”

Longmire also suggested Hawthorn did “exactly the same thing” as his side.

“It was a strange comment from Alastair considering the last three times we met they beat us by a kick,” he said.

“When you just look at what Hawthorn do, they do exactly the same thing. There are plenty of examples of Hawthorn players if you have a look on the AFL’s own website today, they do exactly the same thing.

“In the end it’s an important part of the game and it’s just a bit unusual that he can comment on other teams and make assertions on other teams and what they do and think yourself and your team does everything absolutely perfectly right.”