Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has defended Dan Houston as a "fair player" after the star defender landed himself in hot water over a high bump on Izak Rankine during a fiery AFL Showdown.
Houston laid out Rankine with a shirt-front during the third quarter of the second-placed Power's important 11.14 (80) to 8.10 (58) victory at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Crows forward Rankine was eventually helped to his feet and driven off the ground on a medical cart with concussion.
On Sunday Houston was charged with rough conduct by the AFL match review officer, who graded the Power defender's actions as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
Houston faces the prospect of three or more matches on the sidelines.
It not only puts his participation in Port's finals campaign in serious doubt, but means he may not play for the Power again.
The 27-year-old, who is contracted until the end of 2027, is reportedly considering a move home to Victoria.
"Once he cools down there'll be a moment," Hinkley told reporters after the fiery Showdown.
"He's a really fair player, he's an outstanding person.
"Anyone who's been involved in those type of situations I'm sure ... they know what's going on. They feel the consequence of what's happened.
"He'll wait and see what's delivered to him and he'll move on from there.
"He's a really, really good person. I can't say it enough. And I know people will sit there and go, 'I don't care whether he's a really, really good person'.
"I do. I care about him. He's a fantastic bloke."
Port players were immediately aware of the possible ramifications of the Houston-Rankine clash.
They showed their support for their teammate amid what Showdown Medal winner Zak Butters described as a "chaotic" situation.
"Dan's a valued team member. I love playing with him and if that was Dan or any other of my teammates I'd throw my arms around him and have his back,'' Butters said.
"I thought we really made him feel pretty comfortable out there in probably a tough situation for him."
Five players including Butters - the AFL player with the most fines received from the match review officer - were handed financial sanctions for engaging in a melee during the fiery Showdown.
Port Adelaide forwards Esava Ratugolea (rough conduct) and Charlie Dixon (striking), and Adelaide's Matt Crouch (striking) were all fined for minor offences.
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks refused to comment on the Houston-Rankine incident, instead switching the focus to his player.
"His health and welfare's the priority for us now," Nicks said.
"He's just making sure he's OK, and he is. He's up and about, but we'll keep a close eye on him."
Meanwhile, GWS player Lachlan Ash was handed a one-match ban for rough conduct over a tackle on Fremantle's Hayden Young, and was also fined for staging.
Melbourne's Jack Viney copped a $10,000 fine for rough conduct - his third offence - on Gold Coast's Matt Rowell.
The penalty can be reduced to $6250 with an early guilty plea.
Demons teammate Jacob van Rooyen's $6250 fine for striking Suns player Sean Lemmens can be reduced to $3750.
