PORT Adelaide says the AFL's ruling that prevents it and three other clubs signing top-up recruits to replace banned former Essendon players lacks sense.

The Power believe the decision was based on a flawed process, which was influenced by rival clubs.

The AFL on Friday announced Port, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne can't replace former Essendon players, who have been suspended for the 2016 season by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Essendon, which had 12 players suspended, were given AFL permission to sign a maximum of 10 top-up recruits.

But the other four clubs with banned ex-Bombers on their senior lists have been denied any replacement signings.

"We don't like it. We're disappointed," Port chief executive Keith Thomas told Adelaide radio station 5AA.

Port has two former Bombers - Paddy Ryder and Angus Monfries - on its list.

"That Essendon could end up with 43 players and Port Adelaide with 42, with a list solution constructed by the AFL, just doesn't make a lot of sense," Thomas sais.

The Power chief suspected all other AFL clubs who don't have Essendon players on their list played key roles in the ruling.

"Let me throw this one at you, I'm assuming all clubs said no, and I don't know that, but can you imagine what Eddie (Maguire) would have said had this ruling come down against Collingwood, there would have been hell to pay," he said.

"We were really surprised at the process.

"There was a consultation process with all the other clubs ... we felt it was a unique situation that required AFL leadership - make a call and get on with it, one way or another.

"In the end, that little survey (of other clubs) got exactly the result you would expect.

"I'm assuming all clubs said no ... I don't blame a single club for being interested in their own well-being. I just didn't think it was part of the process that needed to be entertained."

He also said Port won't pay Ryder or Monfries at all and they were last paid in January.