DYLAN Shiel is no stranger to the controversy that comes with certain match review decisions, but the Greater Western Sydney midfielder has backed under fire match review officer Michael Christian after a period of fierce scrutiny.

Shiel was at the centre of one of last year's highest profile match review calls when Richmond captain Trent Cotchin escaped sanction from the panel then in place for a bump that forced the Giant out of his side's preliminary final loss to Richmond before half-time.

Any type of charge would have seen Cotchin miss the Grand Final.

The fallout over that decision was substantial, and a number of incidents have seen Christian criticised again in recent days, with the clash between Hawthorn's Ryan Burton and North Melbourne's Shaun Higgins the one copping most attention.

WATCH: Trent Cotchin's high hit on Dylan Shiel

Higgins was knocked out and required plastic surgery for a split lip after being poleaxed by a Burton bump, but Christian ruled that the Hawk had no case to answer because the Kangaroo's injuries were caused by an accidental clash of heads.

Shiel said he wasn't concerned or confused about that decision or any others surrounding the bump.

WATCH: Roos Shaun Higgins and Ed Vickers-Willis go down

"Every year there's some adjusting to do with new rules or interpretations, but I think we'll get to a certain point later in the season where there's some clear understanding and we'll get into a really good rhythm of knowing what is right and wrong," he said.

"I certainly don't want to see the bump become extinct, it's a terrific part of our game.

"It's an incredibly difficult job that the MRO has in adjudicating the game, it's such a hard game to rule.

"We play a high-speed, physical sport, but we're not as structured as a sport like the NFL or basketball or soccer, we're very instinctive.

"I take my hat off to the umpires and the AFL for what they're doing."

Shiel said the AFL's rules were in place to protect the players, but to also to punish acts such as the bump Port Adelaide's Lindsay Thomas laid on Geelong's Scott Selwood, which resulted in a three-game ban.

WATCH: Lindsay Thomas cannons into Scott Selwood

"I think it's important to differentiate between the Burton incident and the Thomas bump, which was just plain reckless," he said.

"Burton did his best to avoid contact with the head.

"It's hard because the public and the media expect us to play on the edge and play like animals, but at the same time we have to be careful with our heads and look after our opposition."

Shiel provided a unique take on the controversial incident with Cotchin and the decision not to suspend the star Tiger.

"There's an obligation from both players to look after themselves and each other, it's a two-way street," he said.

"You could argue that I could have prevented that (contact from Cotchin) by protecting myself a bit more.

"I can't go in recklessly exposing my head at a contest, then point the finger (at the opposition) if it gets collected and expect the opposition to get a suspension.

"I need to have the skills and awareness to protect myself because these collisions happen."