BANNED Brisbane Lions official Craig Lambert was "probably just trying to help" Lachie Whitfield and has the best interests of the players at heart, Greater Western Sydney defender Adam Tomlinson says.

Tomlinson said Lambert, who this week accepted a 12-month suspension for 'conduct unbecoming' – earnt the trust of the players during his five seasons at the club as a welfare manager.

"If we ever needed somewhere else to stay, or we needed a night off from our roommate, you could go there," Tomlinson told EON Sports Radio on Thursday.

"Lambo was terrific and I couldn't speak higher of a person.

"It's very unfortunate what's happened to him because he's probably just trying to help players out.

"He made us feel at home.

"He and his wife Melissa were terrific in the way they welcomed us pretty much into their family."

Whitfield accepted a six-month suspension and will be available to return for the Giants in round eight next year.

Former administrator Graeme Allan was banned for 12 months and quit his position as football manager with Collingwood.

Lambert played an influential role in the early days of the Giants.

He formed close relationships with the players, which resulted in the club's talented young core, such as Jeremy Cameron, Dylan Shiel and Stephen Coniglio, from resisting the "go-home" factor and re-signing for the long-term.

Lambert re-joined the Brisbane Lions at the end of 2015 to help stem their exodus of high draft picks.

Tomlinson, 23, has played 65 games for the Giants, but the foundation player admitted he wanted to return to Victoria before eventually getting used to his new surroundings.

"I didn't think I would make it past my first year, I was terribly homesick," Tomlinson said.

"I loved footy, but outside of it I didn't really put any effort into enjoying what Sydney has to offer.

"It took me two and a bit years to really find out what Sydney was like.

"Once you put in the effort to see what the town or the state or wherever you move to is like, you can't really complain.

"It doesn't just happen.

"You can't just sit at home and watch movies and say you're homesick.

"For me, I love Sydney and I'm going into my sixth year and I really enjoy it.

"For anyone who gets drafted interstate, you've really got to put effort in to enjoy it."