A send-off rule would create too many complications to be a feasible option in the AFL, chief executive Gillon McLachlan says.
Calls for a send-off rule to be introduced into the sport's top tier gained further traction this week after Port Adelaide defender Tom Jonas knocked out West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff with a crude elbow to his head in a marking contest.
AFL great Terry Wallace was particularly vocal on Monday, saying serious incidents should be punished on game day, especially if the victim was unable to come back on.
But McLachlan said there were too few of those to warrant a new policy that would leave officials navigating muddy waters in relation to what constitutes a grave enough incident.
"I don't like the red card, I don't like the send-off rule," McLachlan said on Tuesday.
"We have incredible scrutinisation of the game, there is accountability for people's actions on field through the MRP and the processes we have.
"I think that the send-off rule in the end creates a huge issue because of the significance about where it starts and stops.
"It raises a whole series of potential impacts and challenges for one or two, or very few incidents on a yearly basis."
Recent big hits include Gold Coast enforcer Steve May's sickening charge on Brisbane's Stefan Martin earlier this season, which resulted in a five-week ban.
In 2014, Richmond's Ty Vickery copped widespread condemnation for his cheap shot on West Coast's Dean Cox.
Most lower levels of Australian Rules football have send-off rules for serious incidents, and red cards are well-established in soccer and rugby.
But opinion on the issue remains split, with Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui coming out against the idea on Monday.
McLachlan said his view did not mean the AFL's system couldn't be improved.
"But I guess I'm being pretty clear that there's not support within the AFL for it, because we believe our game is generally clean," he said.
"There's always incidents, but we have a system to deal with it.
"The potential additions being talked about in the media this week, we think raise significant potential complications."
Jonas will front the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night and is facing a lengthy suspension.
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