ESSENDON could face a fine after Matthew Lloyd approached the field umpires at quarter-time of yesterday's match to question some of their decisions.

Coach Matthew Knights sent his captain over to the umpires after checking with team manager David Calthorpe. But an AFL spokesman said that the rules allowing captains to approach the umpires during breaks in the game had been changed some years ago.

Any player was now allowed to question an umpire's decision during the course of the game, AFL media manager Patrick Keane said, provided he stayed within the limits governing abuse or threatening behaviour.

But no player, including the captain, can converse with the match officials during the breaks.

In any case, Lloyd was waved away from the umpires, Matthew Nicholls, Martin Ellis and Jacob Mollison. The free-kick count in the first quarter was almost even — seven to Port Adelaide, six to Essendon — but the coaching staff were incensed about the failure to award a holding-the-ball free kick when Port's Adam Thomson was caught in a tackle after appearing to have prior opportunity to dispose of the ball.

Port retained possession and the ball was passed to Warren Tredrea, who kicked his only goal of the game.

"I thought it was a pretty good tackle," Knights said after the game, although he did not question the decision directly. He said he would talk to director of umpires Jeff Gieschen about the interpretation of prior opportunity and holding the ball because it was clearly costing Essendon. Queried on the rules regarding approaching the umpires, Knights said if it was a mistake, it was an innocent one.

Although Knights conceded that Essendon had a significant injury list he said it was not acceptable to blame injuries for yesterday's performance.