North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw has hit back at a suggestion young midfielder Jack Ziebell went the man and not the ball when he hit St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt high on Saturday night.

Saints player Brendan Goddard said his team-mates were incensed after the collision which resulted in a potential three-week ban for Ziebell.

"We felt that it was pretty reckless and his intent wasn't really at the footy...I just felt, personally, that we needed to make a stand, particularly when the captain goes down. We just let him (Ziebell) know that we're not going to tolerate that."

But Brayshaw returned fire on Triple M’s Rush Hour show on Monday afternoon saying Ziebell’s intent should never be queried.

“We love him and we won’t have that part of his game questioned.

Click here to watch the video on the NMFC YouTube channel

“His attack on the ball is ferocious and his focus on the footy is ferocious and I think that’s where the angst came…there was a suggestion in what was said that Jack Ziebell doesn’t focus on the ball and go for it when it’s his turn and that is incorrect on every level.”

Brayshaw spoke proudly of the 20 year-old just moments after the AFL announced he was facing a three-week ban for the heavy contact.

“He’ll cop what’s come his way I’m sure but we as a club won’t have anyone ever questioning whether Jack Ziebell sticks his head over the footy when it’s his turn.”

Ziebell’s bump was deemed as reckless conduct, medium impact and high contact resulting in a three-match sanction with an early plea.

The club is yet to make a decision on whether or not he will accept the charge.