Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says that the "nastiness" of the Showdown clashes shouldn't be reduced despite calls that the most recent edition threatened the spirit of the game.
Following a heightened 56th encounter between the Crows and Port Adelaide that yielded multiple tales from the night, Nicks was adamant that the highly anticipated contest was played in the right manner despite some on and off-field controversy.
Power defender Dan Houston received a five-match ban for his shirt-front bump on Crow Izak Rankine, who was left with a concussion, while Matt Crouch is at the centre of an investigation following an altercation with a fan.
These headlines ran parallel to Port Adelaide's mascot receiving some extra attention from a fan who left them bloody-nosed.
SEE MORE: Port Adelaide make appeal call on Houston suspension
However, Nicks denied that these occasions bring out the "nasty" side of football, declaring it was "just passion for sport".
"It was a big week. It was a big Showdown. We played against a side who were playing for top two, top four," Nicks said.
"It was a huge game, and with that comes the intensity... that we all enjoy and love.
"When adrenaline is pumping, and emotions are high, sometimes we can overstep the line, and it can happen to anyone.
"Some could argue there was a little bit of that on the night. I think everyone loves Showdowns, but we'll continue to work on where that line is."
Nicks was "worried" about reducing the access fans and supporters get at games, given the proximity of the front rows to the ground.
The Crows coach said it would be flirting with danger to strip a key component of Australian Rules Football away and potentially lose the "best part of footy."
"What do we lose?" Nicks queried.
"That interaction with the fans and the kids that just love footy and meet someone.
"If we start putting up barriers and fences, we lose that. And I don't want to lose that. It's the best part of footy."
Nicks said that Rankine was recovering well from Saturday's incident and was likely to show his face around the club throughout the week.
The former Sun will miss the Round 24 clash against Sydney with a concussion, while veteran Taylor Walker is all but certain to return to play after eye surgery in the past fortnight.
Walker will be given the week's training to prove he's ready but "will play with everything going well".