GEELONG champion and Match Review Panel member Jimmy Bartel says a red card send-off rule has merit, but he has doubts about how it could be implemented in the AFL.

In the wake of Richmond defender Bachar Houli's hit on Carlton's Jed Lamb and Melbourne's Tom Bugg's strike on Sydney youngster Callum Mills, there have been renewed calls for the AFL to adopt a policy similar to that of world soccer.

Historically, the AFL's Match Review Panel and the Tribunal are designed to deal with player indiscretions.

However, Bartel said a red card rule had potential to level the playing field.

"You lose a player early in the game, in the first quarter, and you're essentially one down while the person who committed the act, their side gets to play on with four on the bench," the Cats great told RSN 927.

"It certainly does favour that side.

"I like the idea, but it's how you execute it for me."

"I haven't heard the right way to execute yet for me to be a fan of it."

Bartel suggested one solution might see an AFL official adjudicating on a send-off.

Many local football leagues have a red card and yellow card policy, with umpires making the call for a sending-off penalty for serious offences.

Bartel said if the AFL did decide to bring in a yellow card and red card system it would need to be thought through carefully.

"If you have something for finals, you've got to have it during the regular season," Bartel said.

"You should condition people to it."