ADAM Cooney has expressed the Western Bulldogs' disappointment in the actions of suspended defender Brian Lake.

With his side trailing by 82 points midway through the final term against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, Lake took exception to being tackled over the boundary line by St Kilda youngster Tom Simpkin and retaliated by landing a left fist on Simpkin's jaw.

Watch Adam Cooney's Press Conference on the media player above, or on BulldogsTV.

The key defender received a one-match suspension from the Match Review Panel.

Asked how disappointed the Bulldogs were in Lake, Cooney answered: "Everyone was, (but) obviously no one was more disappointed than Brian himself," Cooney said at Whitten Oval on Tuesday.

"He let the frustration get to him a little bit.

"He'll cop his week (suspension) and work hard on the track and come back next week and prove to everyone (that he's) a really great player for us."

Cooney was also pressed on whether the Bulldogs' leaders had taken Lake aside for an honest discussion.

"I'm not too sure; I didn’t personally," he said.

"He obviously knew what he did wrong. I'm sure he would've had a good chat to the coach about it as well."

As for his own form, Cooney said he is a few weeks away from building the fitness and confidence he is seeking.

He also confirmed his belief that his chronic knee problem would not improve and that it was simply a matter of contributing in different ways rather than being the matchwinner of Winters' past.

"The hardest thing is getting your head around that your probably not going to get back to your best," he said.

"I'm not getting 35 possessions like a few years ago, but if I can keep contributing to the team and just work hard defensively, doing a few good things each game, that goes a long way to helping the team win."