"Aussies have a great sense of humour, but I don't think we're allowed to now," Mr Goold, of Camperdown, said.

"I used to bring overseas friends to football and I wouldn't put them in the members - I would put them in the back of the stand where they would stand on their six pack and listen to the one liners.

"I think the AFL - in certain areas - have become much more involved in social issues rather than football issues."

Mr Goold said he never had an issue with fans and their opinions on his play.

"You're a dumb fool not to expect to cop abuse from the opposition whether it's from players or the supporters," he said.

"We used to play at Victoria Park and there was always six inches of mud. You would get tackled and hurled into the fence and before you could get up you got belted over the fence with umbrellas and spat on by Collingwood's supporters. I never saw any newspaper articles on that."

Mr Goold said he believed the heavy handed tactics of security staff and police at AFL matches was a reflection of society.

"It's not just in football, it's in all society," he said.

Mr Goold said as a player he rarely heard any of the statements directed at him from the crowd.

"You might be a little surprised to hear that we couldn't hear a player call for a handball or yell out some advice, you couldn't hear any conversation," he said.

However, on the odd occasion he did hear a sledge, he took it in his stride.

"I've been called plenty of things and you just ignore it and rise above it," Mr Goold said.

His comments come after footy fans demanded the AFL provide a list of words they can and can't say from behind the fence amid a growing public backlash over recent bans and evictions.

The AFL Fans Association (AFLFA) has thrown its weight behind calls from the Richmond cheer squad for clarity about the greying line between the age-old passionate sideline commentary and unacceptable abuse.

It comes as the AFL is set to release its review into the eviction of a fan from Saturday's Carlton versus Brisbane Lions match at Marvel stadium for supposedly calling an umpire a "bald-headed flog", though there is debate about the actual words used.

AFLFA president Gerry Eeman said it made "real sense" for the AFL to explain to fans what was now considered unacceptable.

"We've been told that there hasn't been any changes by the AFL, but clearly something's shifted," Mr Eeman said.

"We don't condone yelling out abuse, but we think some allowance for footy being an emotional game needs to be made. This isn't the classroom or office, it's a different environment.

One punter claimed on Twitter that police visited a fan at Monday's Collingwood and Melbourne clash over his "loud support" of a goal.

Another Twitter user claimed four men who "weren't even doing anything" were thrown out near her.

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