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AFL:Star's gut-punch ban rubs salt in Crows' wounds

Adelaide spearhead Riley Thilthorpe has received a one-match ban for a gut punch as the Crows count the cost of their tight loss to Hawthorn.

Coach Matthew Nicks already had concerns over the fitness of gun midfielder Izak Rankine (calf) and Callum Ah Chee (hand) after a bruising 10.15 (75) to 9.12 (66) defeat on Thursday night.

Those were compounded on Friday evening by Thilthorpe's suspension for an off-the-ball strike to the midriff of Hawks ruckman Lloyd Meek in the fourth quarter.

Adelaide next have the bye but then host Geelong in a bumper clash on June 4.

The Crows will clearly ponder appealing the ban, considered body contact, medium impact and intentional conduct, but it is hard to see Thilthorpe being cleared given the AFL's crackdown on gut punches.

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