West Coast AFL coach John Worsfold has washed his hands of his club’s tactic during a tribunal hearing of labelling North Melbourne’s Lindsay Thomas a stager.

Eagles midfielder Luke Shuey on Tuesday night contested a charge of striking Thomas in the groin.

Shuey was found guilty of striking but his suspension was reduced from three matches to two as the tribunal found the blow was delivered to the body and not the groin.

Shuey’s player advocate David Grace made several references during the hearing to the claim that Thomas had form as someone who feigned injury in a bid to milk free kicks.

“He keeled over in front of the umpire in a way that suggested he was either winded or in pain,” Grace said.

“Within 10 seconds of this incident, he’s sprinting and showing absolutely no signs of a blow to the groin.”

Worsfold told reporters in Perth: “That was our defensive counsel. So if you want to argue with him, take it up and he’ll take it on.

“I honestly don’t know what the argument was that we went in (with) to try to get Luke off,” Worsfold added.

North’s chief of football Donald McDonald said the Kangaroos were unlikely to put blame on an opposition player at a tribunal hearing.

“We don’t bring other players from other clubs into any sort of discussions we have once the game’s over,” McDonald told SEN radio.

“We just heard it late last night but, at the end of the day, clubs will put up whatever they want to put up to get their players off.

“It’s not for us to comment on what other players do at other clubs. All we know is we couldn’t be happier with the way Lindsay goes.

“He attacks the footy really hard, plays with a lot of passion and I’m sure all the North supporters are rapt with how he’s been going lately.”

The 11th-placed Kangaroos (7-7) host ninth-placed Carlton (7-7) at Etihad Stadium in North’s only prime-time Friday night TV slot for the season.

North desperately need a win to boost their top-eight hopes and show they can be a ratings winner on Friday nights.

Brad Scott’s men have notched three wins and a two-point loss to West Coast in their past four games.

“We’re starting to show over the last month that when we bring the effort and intensity every week, we can match it with the top sides,” North’s ruckman Todd Goldstein told SEN.

“We have one (Friday night game) every year and it’s always against Carlton.

“The boys really do love that chance to show their wares on the big stage.”