Three Port Adelaide players have been suspended in as many weeks but ruckman Matthew Lobbe insists discipline isn’t a problem.
Power backman Tom Jonas has accepted a three-match ban for a shirtfront which dazed St Kilda’s Dylan Roberton.
An early guilty plea resulted in Jonas missing matches against Brisbane, Adelaide and Geelong.
Jonas follows experienced duo Kane Cornes and Justin Westhoff in being suspended.
Cornes last week was outed for one match for a behind-play blow on Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell, while Westhoff was banned the week prior for striking Essendon’s Cale Hooker.
“I don’t think (coach) Kenny (Hinkley) is going to be too happy with the fact we have lost a few players, but they have all been individual incidents,” Lobbe told reporters.
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“It’s disappointing; we don’t want our players getting reported. But we love the way Tommy attacks the footy as well.
“I don’t think you can change too much. You have got to attack the footy as hard as you can and keep that your sole focus.”
In better news for Port fans, Cornes will play on into his fourteenth season wafter signing a one year contract extension.
Cornes broke Warren Tredrea’s Port Adelaide AFL games record of 255 earlier this season in the Round 12 clash against the GWS Giants.
His game tally now sits at 260 after making his debut against Hawthorn at the MCG in Round 10, 2001.
Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley says the club is delighted to have Cornes continue for at least another year.
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“Kane’s experience and professionalism is so vital around our young group,” Hinkley said.
“We don’t have many older players in our group and Kane has been fortunate to have played through a very successful period at this club.
“That is really important when you’re trying to bring that successful culture back into a group and Kane plays a vital role in being able to impart that experience and knowledge onto the younger players.”
Geelong’s Jimmy Bartel has become the latest Cats player hit with an AFL suspension.
While Geelong will regain repeat offender Steve Johnson for Saturday night’s clash with St Kilda, Bartel will miss the game over a high front-on bump on Adelaide’s Rory Laird on Sunday.
It’s the fifth suspension for a Geelong player this season.
Johnson has served three bans totalling four games.
James Kelly was suspended for two matches over a high bump on Essendon’s Brendon Goddard in round seven, a decision which angered the Cats and which they unsuccessfully challenged at the tribunal.
Another Cat, James Podsiadly, accepted a reprimand and 93.75 demerit points for a rough conduct charge.
Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli was cleared over his tackle on Western Bulldog Ryan Griffen, in which he pulled back Griffen’s right arm in what some commentators termed a “chicken wing” motion.
But the match review panel ruled he did not do so with enough force to sustain a report.
