GEELONG coach Chris Scott says Hawthorn counterpart Alastair Clarkson has been using "alternative facts" in his argument against shrugging head-high tackles.

As his team departed for Perth for a clash with West Coast, Scott called out Clarkson for his comments about Cats skipper Joel Selwood on Friday.

While Clarkson said rules needed to be changed to avoid Selwood winning free kicks for shrugging and sustaining "10 concussions in his career," Scott said the two issues weren't linked.

"I think one needs to be really careful not to conflate shrugging a tackle with concussion, especially if you're using alternative facts to support your argument," Scott said on Saturday.

"The idea that Joel's had 10 concussions is just wrong. The number is three.

"And the two things are completely separate. I can understand that it's an issue, but it's not a new issue, the rules have been adjusted."

As Selwood won a contentious free kick by shrugging a Ryan Burton tackle in the first term of the Cats' Easter Monday loss to Hawthorn, Scott said Clarkson should be worried about other aspects of the match.

"I can understand that Alastair was frustrated with James Sicily getting suspended but I think any reasonable person would say that Joel was more likely to suffer a concussion from a knee in the head than shrugging a tackle around the shoulder," Scott said.

"To bring it up again and suggest a change in the rules I think is deflecting from the real issue Alastair probably wanted to talk about."

Scott said Selwood didn't need to change the way he played the game.

"He's one of the most courageous players of a generation, if not all-time," he said.

"He's been concussed three times and he plays the game in the right manner.

"We don't for a second suggest to the umpires how they should adjudicate the game. And it's not my position as coach to try to dictate the rules of the game."

Scott said he would consider picking up the phone to discuss the issue with Clarkson, a close relationship stemming from coaching the Virgin Australia International Rules Series together and a recent trip to the Super Bowl.