Sydney superstar Adam Goodes tonight defended and endorsed the system which has cost him the chance of winning a third Brownlow Medal.
The midfielder missed tonight's ANZ Stadium clash with Collingwood and ended his run of 204 straight AFL games after accepting a one match ban for engaging in rough conduct against Melbourne's Clint Bartrim in Sydney's last match at Manuka Oval.
It was the gifted 27-year-old's third report of the season and he opted to accept the ban rather than risk incurring a longer suspension with an unsuccessful challenge.
"It's the third time I've been reported this year, so I'm not doing a few things right out there," Goodes said at the Swans' pre-match function tonight.
"I think it was time to bite the bullet, if I'd challenged it at the tribunal and lost we would have got two weeks."
He was adamant the fairest component of the best and fairest should be retained and supported the current system of demerit points.
"If you go back in history, all those guys who have been suspended with tripping or something like that, are you going to give them another Brownlow?" Goodes said.
"Are you going to go back to (former North Melbourne premiership-winning ruckman) Corey McKernan and say `sorry mate, here's a make-up Brownlow'.
"I think the rules are pretty good and obviously this year I haven't abided by them on three occasions and was reported.
"The demerit points are a good system I think.
"You can take an early plea if you've got a good record and not miss a game but accrue the points up and unfortunately I got too many points."
McKernan infamously missed out on winning a Brownlow back in 1996 due to suspension.
Also tonight Goodes gave a humorous insight into why Sydney's other Aboriginal star Michael O'Loughlin was enjoying one of his best seasons in recent years.
"For a period there of about five years he didn't train, he just played, so I think his 31-year-old body is really a 26-year-old body for all the training he has missed out on."
