While not condoning Carlton player Setanta O’hAilpin’s extraordinary actions, Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown said he could understand how an AFL intra-club game could get out of hand.

“I know Jamie Charman broke (Simon Black) Blacky’s ribs five years ago in an intra-club (game) and Blacky still hasn’t spoken to him, so it does happen at intra-clubs,” Brown said in Brisbane on Thursday.

Carlton have suspended key position player O’hAilpin indefinitely after he kicked and punched teammate Cameron Cloke during an intra-club match at Princes Park.

Brown said players had no choice but to tackle intra-club games like the real thing.

“One of the things you are trying to do is test each other out because you know the opposition is going to be doing the same,” he said.

“It’s the competitive juices. If you go half-hearted more often or not you will get hurt, you try and approach it like a normal game.

“And we all know it is an emotional game. It’s not like you’re walking down the street in a clear mind.”

After a demanding pre-season that began last November, Lions coach Michael Voss has opted against playing an intra-club game.

However, the Lions have already chalked up one major casualty – Brownlow medallist Black, who suffered a broken hand at training on Monday night and is out for up to six weeks.

Black has been ruled out of the Lions’ pre-season campaign starting with an NAB Cup clash with St Kilda on the Gold Coast next weekend.

But Brown said Black’s injury may turn out to be a positive.

“It might be a blessing in disguise for Blacky,” he said.

“He has hardly missed a pre-season or game throughout his career.

“I am sure he will hit the season pretty fresh.

“It might take him three or four goals to get going but he will be coming home with a wet sail.”

Brown has ruled himself out of game against St Kilda after coming back from a break that featured hip surgery and a honeymoon in the US.

But he was keen to play some pre-season games.

Besides Black’s injury, the Lions have also been distracted by young forward Rhan Hooper being fined $40,000 for persistent and serious breaches of his playing contract.

And it was revealed this week that midfielder Albert Proud had been suspended by the club after being charged with assault from an alleged glass-throwing incident on the Gold Coast.

“Obviously there was a distraction with Albie’s situation but the club has got to deal with that and the players will move forward,” Brown said.

“But I think Vossy would be happy with the pre-season we have had to date – the way we have approached training and the fitness levels of the crew.”

© AAP 2012

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