Our experts have their say on the ban Dan Houston deserves for his bump on Izak Rankine in Showdown 56

Port Adelaide star Dan Houston has made his return to Alberton as he awaits his fate at the tribunal for his hit on Izak Rankine. Will it be more than a four-game ban? Have your say.

Port Adelaide backline coach Tyson Goldsack says the Power have multiple options to replace All-Australian defender Dan Houston as he awaits his fate at the tribunal.

Houston did not train with his teammates at Alberton on Monday or Tuesday ahead of his date with the tribunal for his massive bump that left Adelaide star Izak Rankine concussed in the Showdown on Saturday night.

He is expected to do some individual training before he fronts the tribunal.

Houston returned to the club on Tuesday morning, confirming he had reached out to the Crows’ superstar in wake of the incident.

“Thinking of Izak and hope he’s alright,” an emotional Houston told media at Alberton this morning.

“I reached out to Izak and I hope he’s alright, I hope he has a speedy recovery, you never set out to injure anyone, and yeah looking forward to putting this behind me and moving on.”

Houston is facing a ban of at least four games, which would all but end his season and could mean the Showdown is the last game he plays for the Power, with it expected he seeks a trade to a Melbourne-based club in the off-season.

The All-Australian defender has faced intense criticism for the sickening bump on Rankine in the wake of an ill-tempered Showdown.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHAT OUR EXPERTS THINK AND HAVE YOUR SAY

Dan Houston knocks out Izak Rankine during Showdown 56. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

Goldsack said the Power would look after its star defender through this testing period.

“Well he’s had the day off today (Monday) to just gather himself a bit,” Goldsack said.

“It felt like he needed it.

“He is not the victim here, we get that but we are here to look after Dan.

“We hope Izak is OK, Dan has reached out to him and to make sure that he is OK and now it is up to us to make sure Dan is OK and get him through the Tribunal.

“It wasn’t the intention (concussing Rankine), the game is so tough to play, it is so quick and decisions that are made in a split second can be quite costly.

“That is going to take a toll so we thought a day off would do him well, he will recover physically and mentally take a breath and he will be back in tomorrow to support his teammates and they will support him.

“It wouldn’t have been easy and it wasn’t easy for him.”

Rankine didn’t go into West Lakes on Monday, with teammate Lachie Murphy confirming the star Crow would remain at home for a couple of days.

“Our attention goes into making sure he is on the mend,” Murphy said.

“Hopefully he is on the mend and is feeling better and he is in and around the club in the next couple of days.”

Given Rankine was concussed, Houston is facing a four-match ban from the tribunal, despite footy greats such as Wayne Carey and Brendan Fevola saying on Monday that they didn’t feel that there was anything wrong with the bump.

Unless the Power lost a qualifying final and then won its way to the grand final, Port won’t have Houston in its side again if he is slapped with the minimum four-game ban.

It would be a big blow for the red-hot Power, with Houston’s ball use from the defensive half the key to Port’s aggressive nature in transition.

Houston’s 79-points from rebound 50 chains is the most in the competition, while he is also the highest rated kick in the league this year.

Goldsack said Ryan Burton, Josh Sinn and Dylan Williams could be in the mix to replace him.

“To the calibre of Dan Houston they are very hard to find but we have players who are ready to play so we will pick them and set them up accordingly and see what we can do over the next couple of weeks,” he said.

“There are players there waiting for their chance.”

Goldsack said Jase Burgoyne, who has the ball use and speed off half-back to replace Houston, could also be shifted from the wing into defence.

“He can do it, he can defend well, he can run a lot so it is an option to have,” he said.

“We like the flexibility in our whole team in general with the changes we can make in game or leading into a game to get the right mix for us.”

Good friend and Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines said Houston would be a big loss for the Power.

“He is very remorseful, Dan is in no way a dirty player or someone who would do that on purpose,” he said.

“I know he has reached out to Izak and we hope that Izak is feeling better and getting through it.

“Dan will face the Tribunal and what will be will be, it is a really hard game to play these days everything is split second.

Ollie Wines is standing by his mate Dan Houston. Picture: Getty Images

“So unfortunately these things happen and what happens will happen.

“Obviously really disappointing for us as a team (to lose him) especially with what Dan has been able to do over the past two years.

“Hopefully he will be a back-to-back All-Australian, I’m a little bit biased but I think he has the best kick in the league.

“So we will wrap our arms around him and try and move on.”

It is widely expected that Houston will request a trade to a Melbourne-based club in the off-season, despite him still having four years left on his contract.

Wines said he had not spoken with Houston about any potential move.

“To be honest it is something that we don’t talk about as players, as much as you think we would speak about rumours we are just focusing on what we need to do and what happens,” he said.

“We are all pretty focused on the now and whatever happens at the end of the season happens.”