ADELAIDE coach Neil Craig has praised the decision to suspend three players for misbehaviour, saying the event spurred the club to its second win of the season against the Brisbane Lions at AAMI Stadium.
 
On Monday, the Crows' leadership group banned reigning best and fairest winner Bernie Vince and rookie Matthew Jaensch for a week, after the pair failed to return to the team hotel at a reasonable hour following the loss to North Melbourne last Saturday night.
 
In-form defender Graham Johncock was also barred from selection when it was revealed he failed to attend a rehabilitation session in Adelaide on Sunday morning.
 
Critics questioned why the leadership group would opt to suspend three key players, given the club’s current plight, but Craig said the move had contributed to the strong on-field performance.
 
“The events of the week were significant (as was) the courage of our senior leadership group to stand up and be counted. We were 1-7 and coming off that sort of result against North Melbourne it would’ve been very easy for the leadership group to turn a blind eye,” Craig said after the game.
 
“The way the week panned out for whatever reason it did … I just love the courage that they showed and it’s amazing how it spills over onto the ground as well.
 
“It was a great response considering the whole week leading up to the game and we couldn’t have asked any more of the players.”
 
Jaensch will be eligible for selection next week, after serving his suspension with Sturt on Saturday but Vince (ankle) and Johncock (AC joint) will serve their bans once they have recovered from injury.
 
Craig said the ordeal would be a lesson for the three players concerned.
 
“It’ll be their choice now about the decisions they make, in terms of challenging the standards of our footy club irrespective of the results we’re getting,” he said.
 
“It’s pretty clear what will happen at our footy club if you challenge them. Now, it’s back to them for a response.”
 
Adelaide’s 12-point win over the Lions was a result of the club’s first four-quarter performance of the season.
 
Craig said it was important his side was able to generate such level of competition every week, not just in the face of adversity.
 
“We don’t want to have a week like we did last week. We don’t want to be known as the club that’s got to have that (sort of) week to get a result. The key thing for the day is that the players now know that they can do that for four quarters and that’s the new level they’ve set themselves for this year.”