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Collingwood sought clarification from the AFL umpiring department over decisions on incidents involving young Magpies forward Jack Ginnivan in round 12.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae says the AFL has privately conceded umpires missed multiple free kicks that should have been paid to livewire forward Jack Ginnivan on Sunday.

Debate has raged around a series of umpiring decisions in the Magpies' narrow win over Hawthorn, with Ginnivan at the centre of the furore.

The 19-year-old booted two goals from free kicks in the first quarter at the MCG but was denied whistles when he appeared to be caught high later in the match.

It raised the question of whether Ginnivan's growing reputation as someone who plays for free kicks - fair or otherwise - is counting against him.

Magpies football manager Graham Wright sought an explanation from the league's umpiring department on Monday.

"We just got some clarity around it and the conversation was around Jack's free kicks or not free kicks," McRae told Fox Footy.

"They said that they missed a couple and it was unseen on one other as well.

"It is what it is."

McRae does not believe Ginnivan is being unfairly treated by whistleblowers.

"Not based on the conversation that was had today," he said.

"There was just a couple (of free kicks) missed, that's all."

Ginnivan has been accused of playing for high-contact frees but McRae said he will continue encouraging Collingwood players to put opposition tacklers to the test.

"We teach our players to take on the tackle ... and there's different forms of that," McRae said.

"I believe it's a skill to be able to get the ball, pick it up, drive into the tackle or use your arms to get over the tackle.

"We're constantly just evolving our players to be able to use that as a technique or a skill."

Collingwood also sought an explanation from the umpiring department about the baffling decision to penalise Magpies defender Darcy Moore for making contact below the legs of Hawthorn opponent Sam Butler.

It gifted the Hawks an important goal during the third quarter, with replays showing Moore made no contact with Butler before the latter went to ground.

The free kick was paid by the non-controlling umpire about 50 metres from the play.

"Everybody can see that (it was the wrong decision) and I think the umpires have admitted to that as well," McRae said.