ADELAIDE Crows star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield has leapt to the defence of Andrew Moore following the three-game suspension handed down to the Port midfielder on Tuesday night.

Moore pleaded guilty to making intentional contact with field umpire Craig Fleer in Port's Round 3 win over North Adelaide.

While Moore stated he was attempting to demonstrate an earlier incident with the Roosters' Heath Caldwell, and Fleer told the tribunal he was unaware of contact even being made, the tribunal disregarded the evidence offered, saying the SANFL "has to be seen to take a stance" in the matter.

Dangerfield says the three-game penalty doesn't fit the crime.

"It's really tough, I feel," he told FIVEaa Breakfast on Wednesday morning.

"From my understanding, even the umpire when they were reviewing it said 'there wasn't anything in it, he was just showing me [the umpire] what happened.'

"I really feel for Andrew, I think it's a really difficult situation to be in, given he was just trying to explain what was happening."

While Moore expressed regret for the action during the tribunal hearing, Dangerfield says it was evident no malice was intended in the incident.

"Maybe he hasn't gone about it in the right manner, but there was certainly no malice, as far as I'm concerned, in what he did," Dangerfield said.

"Surely we need some sort of common sense type rule with regards to that sort of thing, but they're making really strong stance that you can't touch an umpire in any way.

"We certainly have to respect the umpire and the umpire's decision, and sometimes you do get into a conversation with them trying to explain what's happening during a game [but] he might not have even thought he was touching him, he's just trying to explain to him this is the body positioning around stoppages or whatever it might be.

"I certainly feel for him."

Port Adelaide is appealing the SANFL Tribunal's decision, and portadelaidefc.com.au will provide live coverage of the appeal on Thursday afternoon.