Carlton coach Mick Malthouse says respect between players and umpires must be "a two-way" street, advocating a move towards rugby union's umpiring system where referees address players in a "highly professional" manner.

Malthouse told reporters on Wednesday he had concerns over the way some of his players had been spoken to after querying umpiring decisions.

"The things that worry me, and I'll say a couple of things that took place is, 'Don't be a clever (so-and-so) get on with the game', that (was said) to our captain who questioned a decision," Malthouse said. 

"'You should have got to the contest' – we don't need to know that. 

"We don't need those remarks if we're going to build respect.

"I just think that we have to have a greater understanding of the demands on the umpires and also the players basically just want to know an answer and they need to be treated respectfully back."

Malthouse said he had long advocated that the AFL move towards a rugby union-style umpiring system, where the referees address players by their jumper numbers and not by their names or nicknames.

"It's very much done on a basis that is highly professional," Malthouse said. 

"'Yes, sir, I need to talk to you and the captain about this, or the captain and that player.' 

"And what it does is it builds a fantastic respect because you know the rule is there and you know the umpire or the referee has administered that particular rule and, as a consequence, it's discussed so therefore you are aware of (why the decision was made)."

Malthouse stressed that players had to have a greater understanding of just how tough an umpire's job was, but said umpires also had to meet players halfway.

"It's got to be two-way and if you build up a two-way relationship it's far better than a one-way one, let's face it," he said.

"And when you've got that the game improves."

Malthouse said he and Carlton coaching director Rob Wiley were set to meet AFL umpires coach Hayden Kennedy on Thursday afternoon to discuss concerns over decisions made in the Blues' past two losses to the Brisbane Lions and Geelong.

"I think it would be fair to say we all praise the difference between (paying) 'tiggy touchwood' (free kicks) to letting the game go, but we're now increasingly frustrated with the consistency on a week-to-week basis and umpire-to-umpire interpretation," Malthouse said.