Defender Jamie Macmillan has opened up about being pinged for holding the ball in the tense final minute against Hawthorn in round 13, as the sides prepare to lock horns again on Saturday.

With 40 seconds left and North trailing by three points, the 24-year-old threw his head back when Hawk Cyril Rioli made contact with him in the back pocket, only to be penalised in a tackle by Paul Puopolo.

Although the replay mainly showed Rioli collecting Macmillan's chest, the Roo was, in fact, left bleeding from the mouth as a result of the contact and was forced off under the blood rule as Puopolo slotted the match-winning goal.

Macmillan acknowledged his reaction "looked pretty bad" and said he agreed with the umpire's call despite receiving the initial high contact from Rioli.

"If I was an umpire, I would've paid that holding the ball every day of the week," Macmillan told NMFC.com.au.

"Given the state of the game and where it was, I was a bit frustrated because I knew I had contact and I actually did get sent off under the blood rule.

"I looked straight up at the replay because I was adamant I got hit high and then as soon as I saw the replay I was like, 'That doesn't look good'.

"Cyril hits pretty hard; it was pretty forceful but I felt contact to my face so I threw the head back as most people would as they feel contact."

The high-tackle rule was a major talking point in the aftermath, with the AFL umpiring department admitting Lindsay Thomas should have been paid a free kick after being taken high by defender Grant Birchall.

Hawk James Sicily registered two goals from free kicks for high contact in the same match, further adding to the confusion of the rule.

Macmillan said he was anticipating another fierce contest given both clubs were desperate to return to the winners' list, but was unsure if tensions would boil over just like their previous encounters.

"There will be no doubt it'll be a hotly contested game – the last four or five times we've played them it's been like that," he said.

"You expect a physical game but you don't know what you're going to get.

"It's interesting how one thing leads to another sometimes."

Macmillan, however, was more certain of what North can expect from the Hawks' dangerous forward line combination and their ability to lock the ball in their forward 50.

Puopolo is a strong chance to return against the Roos from a two-week layoff with a hip complaint.

"As a defender, you get the footy and when you know Cyril's somewhere in the area and you know Puopolo is somewhere in the area, that's when you start getting a little nervous," Macmillan said.

"It's probably more implied pressure and then before you know it, you're holding the ball for one second too long and they're right onto you.

"Luke Breust is also a good forward pressure player."

Macmillan, who forms part of the Roos' five-man leadership group, has had to take on more on-field duties this season given North's significant injuries, particularly to fellow defenders Luke McDonald and Sam Wright.

He said his career-best year had largely "come more as a surprise" but was aided by his ability to perform multiple roles.

"I've been playing a lot on the wing and down back, and with 'Lukey' and 'Wrighty' going out, I've had to take on more responsibility than what I have done in the past," Macmillan said.

"Playing a bit deeper, which if you told me to do that last year, I would've been a long way out of my comfort zone, whereas now I have more confidence in doing that.

"That's been the biggest thing for me … rather than just being able to play as a half-back flanker and a winger, but now to be able to go back and play deeper, high half-back or wing, you can feel yourself being of more value to the team."