Alastair Clarkson certainly has James Sicily’s back – plus a clip across the ear if necessary.

While the Hawthorn coach says his fiery defender has improved his behaviour, Clarkson says Sicily’s latest AFL suspension was “just silly, stupid, unnecessary”.

Sicily was referred directly to the tribunal for serious misconduct, after sneaking a look to make sure the umpire was not looking and then standing on the back of Shaun Atley’s leg as the North Melbourne player was lying face-down on the ground.

He was suspended for one game, already his second one-game ban this season.

Sicily said after his hearing that he has to eradicate poor discipline from his game, but added Clarkson and Hawks football manager Graham Wright have his back.

“He’s grown enormously in three or four years, he’s 22, he still has a bit to go,” Clarkson said.

“As he said, he knows full well we’ve got his back.

“But he also knows my hand is ready to give him a clip over the ear as well when he has an indiscretion like that.”

Clarkson said the incident itself was not overly serious, comparing it to someone giving his brother a clip in the lounge room, but said there was no place for it in the AFL.

“It’s really just the look and interpretation of what you’re thinking,” Clarkson said.

“For us, it’s just silly, stupid, unnecessary – just get it out of your game.

“It’s not going to cause any harm to anyone, except yourself and our footy club.

“Whether it’s the AFL suspending him or our own footy club suspending him, he needs to get better at that.”

Sicily’s suspension is among three changes for Hawthorn ahead of Saturday’s match against St Kilda in Launceston.

Shaun Burgoyne will return from injury, Will Langford was also recalled and James Worpel will make his AFL debut.

North blitzed the Hawks in the first quarter last weekend and Clarkson hopes his team learned their lesson.

“It’s mainly about our intent,” he said.

“We just thought were going to happen – that happens with every side at different stages.

“Before you know it, you’re four or five goals down and you’re chasing your tail a little bit.

St Kilda enjoyed a big win over Hawthorn in Launceston a year ago.

“We need to respond a little bit better – we need to hope St Kilda haven’t got that type of footy in them,” he said of North’s win.

“But we know they’re a very, very capable side too.

“They did demonstrate that sort of footy against us down in Tasmania last year.”