Geelong coach Chris Scott says fullback Matthew Scarlett deserves his ban for an off-the-ball hit, but wants him to keep playing on the edge.

Scarlett will miss Saturday night's AFL clash with Fremantle in Perth after pleading guilty over an elbow to the stomach of St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt on Friday night.

The other player suspended from the weekend's round was Richmond defender Alex Rance, who will miss three games over the incident which concussed Carlton's Jarrad Waite.

While Scarlett's hit was at the lowest end of the striking scale, a penalty loading for a previous offence meant the star defender was rubbed out rather than reprimanded.

Scott said the penalty was warranted.

"Modern footy suggests that he should get a week. The rules are pretty clear," he said.

But Scott, who along with twin brother and North Melbourne coach Brad was a renowned intimidator during their playing days with Brisbane, said he demanded aggression from his team.

"We talk to all our players about where the line is with the rules - how far you can push things and where you've got to be careful," he said.

"I make no secret of the fact that we expect our players to play on the edge.

"Then when they make errors we need to make sure we pull it back a little bit.

"It's really costly for us to lose Matty for a week, but it will be a good test for our back six or seven players to step up in his absence."

The tribunal was not required to sit, with Rance deciding not to risk a four-match ban by challenging his rough conduct charge.

Cats midfielder Jimmy Bartel was fined $900 for making negligent contact with an umpire and Port Adelaide's Matt Thomas was docked $900 for an obscene gesture.

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