Kyneton Football Netball Club is outraged by the penalty handed down to Golden Square’s Dylan Johnstone.

The Dog’s key forward was suspended for three weeks by the BFNL tribunal on Wednesday night after he pleaded guilty to a rough conduct charge from an incident involving Kyneton’s Hamish Govan in last Saturday’s game at the Kyneton Showgrounds.

Govan suffered a fractured cheekbone, spent Saturday night in Sunshine Hospital and will see a surgeon this Friday to determine if he requires surgery.

At the tribunal hearing, a remorseful Johnstone pleaded guilty and made a heartfelt apology to Govan, Govan’s family, the Kyneton FNC and the officiating umpires.

The tribunal also took into account Johnstone’s previously unblemished record in handing down the three-match ban.

“I understand Dylan is genuinely remorseful and he has apologised, but sometimes you have to be accountable for your actions,’’ Kyneton FNC president Rob Waters said.

“Hamish is probably going to miss at least six weeks of footy and he has a fractured cheekbone. Hamish loves his footy, he’s a family man and an injury like that hurts all parts of his life, not just football.

“A three-week suspension seems a bit light to me.”

Govan took to social media to show his frustration at the penalty and he also suggested that Bendigo-based clubs get better treatment at the tribunal than their country counterparts.

“Other way around and I wouldn’t have got back this season #bendigolovebendigo” Govan tweeted.

Waters was also frustrated by Tiger forward Dan Davie’s two-week suspension.

Davie was reported for intentionally striking Square’s Michael Dalrymple. An intentional strike carries a two-week automatic suspension, rather than a one-week suspension for a careless strike.

“Dan Davie cops two weeks for an action that you could argue was a jumper punch or forceful push and the Golden Square player got up and wasn’t injured,’’ Waters said.

“In comparison, Dylan (Johnstone) gets three weeks for fracturing Hamish’s cheekbone. It doesn’t stack up.”

Kyneton FNC has no avenue to appeal the length of Johnstone’s suspension.