NMFC v Carlton Digibattle: Click here for more information
NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott has praised Lindsay Thomas for his resilience not only throughout this season but also in the wake of West Coast's tribunal defence of Luke Shuey that labelled his player a stager.
On Tuesday night, the Eagles failed in their bid to have Shuey's striking charge against Thomas overturned at the tribunal.
The Eagles' player advocate David Grace QC argued that Thomas faked contact to his groin looking for a free kick, and claimed the Kangaroos' forward had "form" in doing so.
The argument failed and Shuey was suspended for two weeks.
Scott said the Roos hadn't taken the defence personally, and Thomas hadn't battered an eyelid as it played out over the past few days.
"He had nil reaction. It didn't faze him one bit," Scott said on Thursday.
"It's not for me to comment on how other clubs go about their business … what we'll do is defend Lindsay to the hilt.
"Lindsay's been outstanding this year for us under a variety of pressures.
"What he's shown through this is he's an extremely resilient person.
"Lindsay will brush this off and get on with it."
Earlier on Thursday, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said Thomas had suffered "a character assassination" as part of the claim.
On Wednesday, West Coast coach John Worsfold said he wasn't responsible for the Shuey defence and didn't know what argument the Eagles had planned to approach the tribunal with.
Scott sided with the Eagles' coach and said while his players wouldn't try to get others suspended, he understood how player advocacy worked.
"I know John Worsfold well enough to know that he would have had nothing to do with that," he said.
"Defence counsel use whatever tactics they can to get their players off. John Worsfold is not the type of person to do those sorts of things, and neither is Luke Shuey.
"It doesn't worry me at all. Donald McDonald has said it's not what we would do and I'm sure it's not what John Worsfold would do, but these days at the tribunal, you have QCs and defence counsel who use whatever tactics they can.
"I haven't taken it personally and nor has Lindsay."
Scott said he doubted the choice of defence had anything to do with his comments after the round six clash between the teams about the Eagles' habit of ducking to win head-high free kicks.
He said the Roos would put the episode behind them and move on to Carlton on Friday night.
"We'll just get on with our business and worry about our players," he said.
"[Lindsay's] attack on the ball is first class. When we do our boxing, no one wants to fight him. He's the best fighter in the club.
"He can take punches, he can throw punches. He's a really resilient person and we're just rapt with how he goes about his footy."
Can't view the video? Watch on YouTube
North Melbourne v Carlton
Friday July 13, 7.50pm
Etihad Stadium
Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.
