Port Adelaide have slammed suggestions of disunity at the AFL club as farcical.
Power defender Tom Jonas says players are laughing at such talk because it's so far off the mark.
"To be honest, it's pretty farcical. And internally we're joking about it, it's that ridiculous," Jonas told reporters on Wednesday.
Port, with three heavy losses in four games, initially dealt with a supposed rift between the players and chairman David Koch.
The chairman labelled a loss against GWS a fortnight ago as a "disgrace" in a critique which captain Travis Boak said rattled the players.
Koch then told any offended players to "harden up", before reports of a fall-out between Boak and vice-captain Hamish Hartlett - which has been roundly rejected.
"There has been a lot of noise," Jonas said.
"And that comes from expectation, that comes from disappointment from our supporters and the wider football community - and that is what happens.
"We're just taking that on the chin. But internally we are staying very tight ... we know what we have dished up so far is not good enough so we're working together.
" ... When there is pressure on and we let people down, things like that can get out control and that is what has happened.
"It's not so much frustrating as a little bit disappointing that people would resort to that sort of stuff when things aren't going our way."
Jonas said the criticism would galvanise Port players ahead of Saturday night's away match against struggling Richmond.
"To some extent when things are going against you, it's really good when you're back is against the wall," he said.
"Everyone just comes together and Port Adelaide have got a strong tradition of doing that. So it is a good opportunity to use that to our advantage."
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