ADELAIDE forward Chris Knights says the hit he received from St Kilda defender Zac Dawson in the game between the two sides at AAMI Stadium last weekend was outside the "spirit of the game", adding that similar undisciplined acts from his own teammates wouldn’t be accepted by the club.

Dawson was one of four players to be cited by the match review panel, following the spiteful clash between the Crows and Saints on Saturday night.

The St Kilda full-back unsuccessfully appealed a one-match ban for punching Knights in the stomach during the first quarter.

Adelaide defender Richard Tambling will also miss a week after accepting an early-plea for striking Adam Schneider.

Big men Kurt Tippett and Sam Jacobs escaped with reprimands for separate undisciplined acts.

On Tuesday, Crows assistant coach Matthew Clarke conceded several players had "overstepped the mark" with their aggression against St Kilda last weekend.

Knights didn't retaliate to Dawson's hit and said it was important his teammates avoided situations that might lead to suspension in the future.

"I was just going to offer a bit of assistance to Tippo [Tippett] and Taylor Walker and Zac got me low," Knights said.

"It was just unexpected really. It's not really in the spirit of the game, but you just play on. You can't really get emotionally attached to it too much or seek revenge because then you stop focusing on what you have to do.

"A few of our boys were involved in situations during the game that they probably shouldn't have been. We were fortunate that two [Tippett and Jacobs] got let off, but it's disappointing Richard Tambling got a week.

"He's going to be missed and it [undisciplined behaviour] is not going to be accepted at this footy club."

It might be tough for the Crows to avoid physical confrontation this weekend, against a Melbourne outfit reeling from a disappointing loss to West Coast.

The Demons have received heavy criticism this week, and Knights said he expected Dean Bailey's men to respond at the MCG on Sunday.

"We understand the Dees are going to come out firing and be hard as well, but we're not going to lose our discipline or focus and get involved in that sort of [niggling] stuff," he said.


"We just have to focus on being hard at the contest and tackling well."

The Crows will be without Tambling and centre half-back Phil Davis (shoulder) for the game against Melbourne, but should be bolstered by the return of young midfielder Rory Sloane.

Sloane hasn't played since fracturing his jaw and thumb in the club's win over Hawthorn in round one.

He completed training on Wednesday and Knights said it was possible the tough onballer would be rushed straight back into the team.

"Sloaney has put his hand up. He loves that contested footy and loves the hard stuff, so he's a good asset and we know what we're going to get when Rory plays but that will be up to the coaches," Knights said.

"If you've got a fully fit team and plenty of numbers playing good SANFL football it might be hard [to come straight back into the team]…but when there are a number of issues, there might be a few blokes out through injury or suspension, sometimes you just have to be ready to go."

Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill