Adelaide's Nathan Bock has been suspended indefinitely and fined $5000 after being charged by police with assault and causing damage following an incident at the General Havelock Hotel in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The incident, which involved his long-time girlfriend Carlie Matthews, has also prompted the club to issue the All-Australian defender 50 hours community service with a women's shelter.
Club CEO Steven Trigg said Bock would be supported by the club with counselling but would still have to face punishment for making some 'very bad decisions' away from the football field.
"Nathan will be unavailable for selection this week and indeed until such time that we determine he's committed to the program that the players and management have put in front of him and immersed in it, living it and that his head is in the right space," he said.
Trigg said the club consulted the AFL and took into account his normally good behaviour when handing out its sanctions to the 26-year-old.
"At this point in time, he gets our support, not withstanding our bitter disappointment at the situation," he said.
"A repeat of the situation would put his position in our club in very serious jeopardy and I suspect across the competition in jeopardy as well."
Bock said his actions, which occurred after an afternoon and evening of drinking, 'were out of character'.
"Firstly and foremost I deeply regret my actions on Saturday night and want to apologise to my girlfriend Carlie and to her family for any embarrassment and hurt I've caused them," Bock said in a prepared statement."
"I also apologise to my family and friends, the Adelaide Football Club, its players, staff, sponsors and supporters."
"I'm deep disappointed in my behaviour and acknowledge the fact that as and Adelaide football player, we are looked upon as role models in the community and I will endeavour to regain any respect I've lost."
"The course of action put together by the club and players is something I will adhere to and will make the upmost effort to change my behaviour in these situations."
"I accept the fact that I need to do some work in areas of managing my behaviour while drinking to ensure a situation like this won't occur again."
Bock's suspension ends a dirty couple of days for Adelaide with Trent Hentschel and Chris Knights set to spend some time on the sidelines after sustaining injuries during the Crows' lost to the Saints on Friday.
Hentschel will have an arthroscopy on his right knee and will miss about a month of football while Knights has got a fracture of the eye socket and will be out for at least three weeks.