NO ONE at Fremantle is more disappointed with Hayden Ballantyne's suspension than Ballantyne himself, according to teammate Nick Suban.
The lively Docker forward will serve a one-match suspension for the second time this season after accepting a guilty plea for striking Greater Western Sydney’s Tomas Bugg during the third term of the Dockers 76-point win on Sunday.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has defended Ballantyne over the last two days, saying he will continue to pick his star forward and encourage him to play his own way despite this latest suspension.
"If you talk to Hayden he'd be the most disappointed out of anyone," Suban said on Tuesday.
Ballantyne accepts one-match ban for striking
"But that's the way he plays. He'll move on and look forward to playing in a couple of weeks time."
The Dockers will search for a club-record equalling ninth straight win when they meet St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Competition for places in the Fremantle side is fierce and there are plenty of candidates lining up to replace Ballantyne this week. Matt de Boer, Tommy Sheridan and Hayden Crozier all performed strongly in the WAFL last week while Luke McPharlin is due to return from a minor calf strain.
McPharlin's return could open the door for someone to fill a role up forward this week.
"There's a number of guys playing at Peel who could come in and play that role - or someone else like Clancee Pearce could play that role," Suban said.
"I'm sure Ross and the coaches will have an interesting match committee during the week and go from there."
Suban will play his 100th AFL match on Saturday. Despite six seasons at Fremantle and some good recent form, including three goals against the Giants last week, the 24-year-old said he feels far from settled in the Fremantle side.
"You never feel like you're an established part (of the team)," Suban said.
"You need to perform week in week out and on the training track.
"I think I have been a lot more consistent (this year). But I am just happy to play a role in the side and whether that is forward, mid, back, it doesn't really matter."
