They had their fingers burnt when defender Dwain Sanderson opted not to accept a set two-game ban offered after a BFL match review panel sitting and instead take his case to the AFL Goldfields independent tribunal.

The tribunal upheld a striking charge and suspended Sanderson for four matches.  

"It's a lesson learned," Jordan said.

Sanderson begins the suspension, which resulted out of an incident against North Ballarat City on June 24, against Melton South on Saturday.

With Sunbury having had a bye since the suspension was handed down and the Lions having another break on July 22, Sanderson will not be eligible to play again until round 16 on August 12.

Sanderson was suspended for having intentionally struck Simon McCartin late in the last quarter.

Jordan said Sanderson's challenge had been based on his objection to the charge being graded as "intentional".

He said Sanderson believed "negligent" better described the high contact, which left McCartin on the ground.

"There's no question there was high contact.

"That's not disputed."

Jordan said the club had been stunned by the tribunal's decision -  not envisaging the suspension would in effect be doubled.

Jordan said Sunbury had looked at the circumstances of a one-match suspension incurred by Lions forward Ben Said early in the season when weighing up whether to take Sanderson's charge to the tribunal.

Said received a one-match ban for "careless striking" in an "off-the-ball" incident.

Jordan said the Sanderson incident was in play, with contact being made as McCartin disposed of the football.

Jordan said this experience highlighted the risk in taking a report to the tribunal.

He said based on this case a club would have to think twice about going down this path, given the contrast between the set ban offered and tribunal finding.

Jordan said while surprised by the severity of the suspension, the club had accepted the independent decision and moved on.