PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley says Sam Powell-Pepper has taken full responsibility for his actions and will work to regain the trust of the group.
The Power young gun has been suspended for this Sunday's clash with Essendon at Etihad Stadium by the club's leadership group for breaking team rules last weekend.
Powell-Pepper was handed a one-week ban for staying out past 2am and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol after the Power's five-point win against Brisbane last Saturday.
An AFL investigation into the late-night incident is ongoing.
"Clearly, it's a disappointing thing for us to deal with," Hinkley said.
"We know now that Sam's gone outside some team trademarks that we like to represent and he's going to pay the price this week.
"Sam's rightly upset, but he should own that. It's all of his work and his decision-making, which led him to be in this situation.
"Sam's incident is Sam's alone, and Sam should own that."
Hinkley said Powell-Pepper's actions went against what the Power stood for as a club.
"Sam has got to understand the obligation to be a part of the Port Adelaide Football Club," Hinkley said.
"That's really clear from all our players.
"I don't say that they won't make mistakes, and they do make mistakes, it's just what they do sometimes.
"It's unfortunate and we would much rather not have it, but Sam needs to learn to work with what we do, and we represent our community in a proud way.
"What Sam did the other night wasn't a proud way."
Meanwhile, Hinkley said the Power would resist the temptation to pick a specialist ruckman to face the Bombers, while defender Dan Houston trained on Thursday and will be cleared from concussion.
Fellow defender Jasper Pittard will make his return from a hamstring injury in the SANFL.
The Power will persist with Justin Westhoff, Charlie Dixon and Dougal Howard sharing the ruck duties in the absence of All Australian big man Paddy Ryder, despite Brisbane ruckman Stefan Martin dominating last weekend.
"We'll do it partially different, we won't bring in a ruck, that's the simple answer," Hinkley said.
"We'll make do with what we've got currently in the team."
The Power is the only unbeaten side in the League after three rounds but won't be taking the Bombers lightly.
The Bombers thrashed the Power by 70 points at Etihad Stadium in the corresponding fixture last year.
"We know Essendon is a significant challenge," Hinkley said.
"We watched them only two weeks ago at Etihad take on Adelaide and beat them there.
"We're not confused by the challenge we've got in front of us and as a club we're really desperate to get it right."
More on portadelaidefc.com.au...
