North Melbourne coach Brad Scott wants his players to respond with a stiff upper lip if they cop a stiff blow to the head.
Tempers frayed throughout the Kangaroos' AFL clash with Hawthorn last Saturday, especially when Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis thumped Andrew Swallow and Todd Goldstein respectively.
Scott noted his charges showed a lot of composure in the 60-point loss, but bemoaned a gifted goal that followed one of the fracas.
"Andrew Swallow was really disappointed with his reaction," Scott said on Wednesday.
"Immediately after the Hodge incident, we gave away a free kick which resulted in a centre-bounce goal.
"We conceded the lead we had at the time. We conceded the momentum because we were supposedly flying the flag.
"Flying the flag is just crap."
Scott suggested there was an easy way for fired-up players to prove their toughness on the field - rise above it.
"Push and shove is not tough. It's not brave. It's rubbish ... it's cowardice," he said.
"What is tough and courageous is copping something that's a bit untoward, getting up and staying in control and then attacking the next contest with ferocity.
"When I started playing footy, if somebody said they're going to belt you there was a fair chance they'd do it.
"Now a lot of players say that, but they never do it apart from a few very rare cases."
Hodge, who was referred directly to the tribunal and given a three-game ban, took the unusual step of contacting Scott to explain the incident and express remorse.
"It was certainly unexpected. Luke didn't need to do that," Scott said.
"He offered an apology that was accepted.
"It was largely out of character and it shouldn't tarnish his reputation in any way."
The Kangaroos next face Richmond in Hobart on Saturday, when they will regain key defender Lachie Hansen and key forward Jarrad Waite.
Hansen is yet to play this season due to a hip surgery, while Waite was a late withdrawal from the loss to Hawthorn due to a hamstring niggle.
Daniel Wells's return remains less clear, with the veteran playmaker still restricted by an achilles tendon injury.
"We're not going to put him at risk," Scott said.
"We think it's going to be something that is going to be resolved fairly quickly.
"He's better than he was ... but we can't put a timeframe on it."
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