CONCERNED about tactics used to shut down key players, Carlton went to the AFL umpiring department seeking clarification of what was considered acceptable and unacceptable at stoppages and in its forward line.

Armed with footage from recent games, Carlton football operations manager Steven Icke and assistant coach Mark Riley spoke to umpiring coach Rowan Sawers on Thursday last week to sort out what were considered legitimate defensive tactics at ball-ups, centre bounces and boundary throw-ins and in forward marking contests.

While the Blues were mindful of the tactics used against their gun midfielders Chris Judd, Nick Stevens and Marc Murphy and spoiling and blocking techniques directed at Brendan Fevola, Carlton football operations manager Stephen Icke said the club was not complaining about being given a raw deal with the umpires.

Icke said last night that Carlton had been to see the umpiring department to clarify what was considered legitimate and illegal, and to gain a better understanding of how these areas were being umpired.

"When we went and spoke to them it wasn't just related to midfield taggers," Icke said, adding that the Blues had also sought clarification of what constituted "prior opportunity" in holding-the-ball decisions.

Icke said the club had raised was what was legitimate "in terms of trying to spoil" and to move a forward "off the line of the ball". He confirmed that the Blues were raising this in relation to marking contests in their forward area.

"It's fair to say we went there (to the AFL) because we were uncertain about certain things."

Icke said the club was "happy" with the interpretations from last Sunday's game against Sydney, in which Fevola received two free kicks and shots on goal for interference. The Blues had 20 frees to 8 at half-time, but finished the match with just 26 frees to 22, a reflection of Sydney's stronger second half.

Judd and Stevens were well held in the Sydney game by Brett Kirk and Luke Ablett respectively, with the Swans taking the view that Judd has been playing a predominantly "inside" game this year, hence their decision to use the gritty Kirk rather than a quick player on the Carlton champion.

Sydney's Keiran Jack was given the job on Murphy, who still managed to win 10 disputed balls despite close checking.

Icke emphasised that the club had no complaint about the standard of umpiring or their treatment by the umpires. "We wanted to seek that clarification on a couple of things."