PORT ADELAIDE won’t let the suspensions handed to Dan Houston and Pete Ladhams on Thursday distract its players from Saturday’s important clash with Hawthorn.

Houston was banned for two matches and Ladhams three for breaching the AFL’s COVID-19 protocols by inviting visitors into the ruckman’s home after the club’s game against the Western Bulldogs on Monday 3 August.

The AFL has also fined the club $50,000 as a result of the breach, $25,000 of which is suspended.

Port Adelaide General Manager – Football, Chris Davies said losing the pair, who had been in the best 22 in recent matches, was disappointing but would not affect the way the rest of the side approached the rest of the season.

“There’s no point hiding from the fact that it’s a blow, but at the same time our club has been fantastic this year at rolling with what it’s been dealt and (coach) Ken (Hinkley) and the players will have the same opportunity to do that and have the responsibility to do that this weekend,” Davies said during a press conference on Thursday.

“This doesn’t need to be a distraction unless we make it a distraction.

“Our guys will have no excuse this weekend to perform against Hawthorn.

“The people that go out there will be representing our football club in a way that they should despite the fact that Pete and Dan haven’t, but nonetheless not having them in the team is an issue right now.”

Davies said the players had wasted time and resources that should have been used on keeping the game going, rather than on punitive measures for “idiotic behaviour”.

He said the players would front up to coach Ken Hinkley and their teammates tomorrow.

“Ken is bitterly disappointed, angry, but at the same time, we don’t have time to dwell on this issue, other than to say that Ken will deal with the players when they arrive back at training tomorrow and we as a club will obviously put our arms around the players to support them,” he said.

“We need to be able to move on in order to ensure we are absolutely prepared for a game on Saturday against a team which has caused us issues in the past, in a round that is really significant for our footy club and in a round where we’ve got a fair bit at stake.

“It’s extremely disappointing. There’s no other way to say it other than the players are abundantly clear of the rules that are in place, as are our coaching staff and everyone who is needing to live by the protocols at the moment.

"The fact that this breach has occurred and looks to be a wilful breach is something that is bitterly disappointing and the players who are involved, both Peter and Dan need to take responsibility for that.”

Davies clarified that everyone at the club was aware of the rules they needed to abide by and the responsibility they carried for the entire sport, and that made the players’ actions more disappointing.

“I think everyone who is involved with Football in Australia is aware of our responsibility to continue to keep the game alive,” he said.

“We as a club take that responsibility very seriously. We’re bitterly disappointed to have two players in this instance who have breached the protocols.

“We’ll put some supports around them but make no mistake, we are absolutely disappointed with both Pete and Dan.

“Dan should know better. Pete Ladhams is in a situation where he’s just got into the team.

“If he wants to have a career as a professional footballer, he’ll need to act in a far better manner than he has right now, as will Dan, specifically at this footy club.”

Davies was alerted to a potential breach by a third party on Tuesday night and notified the AFL within minutes.

He said both players had been spoken to as part of an investigation into the mater and both had accepted their sanctions.

Ladhams lives with former teammate Billy Frampton, who now plays for Adelaide, but Davies was quick to clarify there was no blame on the Crows big man.

“I know that Peter lives with Billy, but let’s be absolutely clear for anyone who wants to make this about the Adelaide Footy Club, it’s not,” Davies said.

“This is about the Port Adelaide Football Club, (Dan Houston) and Peter Ladhams, not about Billy Frampton or the Crows.”