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Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna admits Campbell Brown must earn back his teammates’ trust after accepting a four-week AFL ban on Tuesday.
The former Hawthorn defender will miss the next four games for his part in two incidents in the clash with the Western Bulldogs at the weekend.
Brown opted not to contest a two-match ban for striking Callan Ward during last Saturday’s game at Etihad Stadium.
And he also accepted a two-match suspension for making forceful contact against Bulldogs forward Barry Hall.
McKenna said a “remorseful” Brown addressed the young Suns playing group on Tuesday as they prepared for this weekend’s clash with Melbourne.
“I spoke to him over the course of the weekend (and) he addressed the playing group today,” he said.
“Obviously he was remorseful to the playing group.
“He understands that he has let them down.
“He has to earn back their trust – which I am sure he will do.
“He’s deputy vice-captain … we would like to think all of our players, not just our leaders, make good decisions on and off the field.”
Asked what he thought of the four-week penalty, McKenna said: “Four weeks is four weeks and we will accept that.
“One of the things when we recruited Browny was because of his hardness and his attack on the football.
“But we want to play hard and fair – we certainly don’t want to play outside the rules.
“The rules are quite clear. Unfortunately he has crossed that line. He takes his medicine and we move on.”
McKenna admitted Brown left a big hole in a Suns outfit that had been hopeful of registering an historic first win against Melbourne at the Gabba on Sunday.
“He was just starting to run across the ground after an interrupted pre-season,” McKenna said.
“He’s certainly part of the glue that binds our defence together alongside Nathan Bock.
“His leadership and his hardness will be sorely missed.”
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