Geelong coach Chris Scott is unhappy that his star utility Steve Johnson has again fallen foul of the AFL match review panel, ruling him out of Saturday’s crunch match against Sydney.

Johnson will serve a one-game ban for striking former Cats teammate Allen Christensen in last weekend’s victory over Brisbane.

But Scott was at least heartened to learn that Johnson had not targeted the ex-Geelong midfielder, but was instead responding to provocation from another Lions player.

“As it turned out, (Johnson) is very disappointed with his actions but I’m a little bit more comfortable that there was more to it than first met the eye,” said Scott.

The Cats will resist the temptation to replace Johnson with another gifted utility in Dan Menzel, who has undergone four knee reconstructions since last playing senior football in 2011.

Menzel has exceeded all expectations since returning to VFL action, but is not quite ready for senior football.