Essendon defender Conor McKenna was lucky to receive only a three-match suspension for biting, premiership AFL stars believe.

The 22-year-old fronted the AFL Tribunal on a serious misconduct charge on Tuesday evening after pleading guilty to biting Western Bulldogs forward Tory Dickson.

After a lengthy hearing, McKenna was banned for three matches – punishment Jordan Lewis and Jack Riewoldt felt was far too lenient.

“Three weeks probably isn’t hefty enough,” Melbourne midfielder Jordan Lewis, who won four premierships with Hawthorn, said on AFL 360.

He felt the game “missed a chance to make a real point of it”.

Riewoldt added: “I wouldn’t be rapt if that was me copping a bite to the neck. I think three weeks might be a little light, as well.”

The Richmond forward said even though the bite did not cause a significant injury to Dickson, punishment needed to be harsher because of the bad look.

“I reckon that it’s something that in the findings it wouldn’t be a substantial injury as like a concussion or something else … but for the look of the game it is certainly something that is pretty poor,” he said.

A remorseful McKenna spoke briefly outside the tribunal afterwards.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and I am sorry for what I have done,” he said.

“I am just looking forward to moving on now and getting over the decision.”

Conor McKenna is likely facing at least a three-game suspension if found guilty of biting at the AFL Tribunal.

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The Irishman will miss Sunday’s home game against Port Adelaide, the Anzac Day clash against Collingwood and the Round 6 encounter with Melbourne.

The case was referred directly to the tribunal by match review officer Michael Christian.

The incident occurred after McKenna was tackled to the ground by Dickson and they had a brief scuffle with the Bomber pinning his opponent to the ground.

Dickson appeared to complain to Bulldogs staff when he ran to the bench immediately after the incident.

He told AFL integrity officer Kerry Gassner that he felt a “quick nip to his neck” but it didn’t break the skin and he did not require any treatment.

Photo evidence that showed a small red mark near Dickson’s Adam’s Apple was also submitted.

Jeff Gleeson QC, who was acting for the AFL, argued that McKenna’s guilty plea should go in his favour but added that the “sheer act of desperation” was “not an act in the spirit of the game”.

“It is rather inexplicable, a quick scuffle resulting in a bite,” he said.

“This was a bite to the neck. He moved towards a part of the body which is particularly vulnerable and he bit the neck.

“In no game, in any era, has biting been an act in the game.”

McKenna is the third player since 1991 to be suspended for biting. His was the equal highest penalty handed down for the offence.

– with AAP