ADELAIDE is happy for small forwards Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron to be "roughed up" by opposition sides, rather than see their teammates give away free kicks by retaliating.

Both Cameron and Betts received physical attention from Hawthorn defenders last week, with both felled in behind-the-play incidents in round 12.

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Ben Stratton punched Betts in the stomach after Adelaide's second goal of the game and seconds later Josh Gibson elbowed Cameron in the stomach.

Later in the game, Brian Lake put Betts on his backside with a solid bump deep in defence.

Josh Jenkins stuck up for Betts after Stratton floored him, but his actions gave the Hawks a free kick in the centre circle.

Forward line coach David Teague said Betts and Cameron were tough enough to handle any physicality directed at them.

"It's very tough now, the way AFL's played, to do a lot. I think Josh Jenkins tried to remonstrate, didn't do it correctly, gave a free kick away," Teague said

"I think Eddie and Charlie would both put their hand up to say 'we'd prefer to get roughed up than give free kicks away'.

"They both kept playing the game, both kept playing the ball and that's all I can ask from them."