BRAD Scott did not see the incident that saw Jarrad Waite reported in Sunday's NAB Challenge clash with Hawthorn but the North Melbourne coach has spoken to Waite about eradicating the on-field disciplinary lapses that plagued him at Carlton.

Waite was reported in the second quarter of the game at Shepparton's Deakin Reserve after he collected Hawks defender Ben Stratton in the head with an attempted spoil.

Stratton was able to get up without assistance, take a free kick and play out the rest of game. 

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Scott told reporters after the match he had not been aware that Waite had been reported. 

However, the North coach said he had spoken with Waite about his poor Tribunal record when he arrived at Arden Street late last year. 

In 12 seasons with the Blues, Waite was found guilty of seven reportable offences and suspended for a total of eight games.

"One thing you notice about Jarrad is that he jumps really early for the footy and sometimes if he misjudges that jump he gets himself into a terrible position so he crashes into someone or he makes a clumsy spoil," Scott said.

"As long as the intent's good then – like the (Jack) Ziebell one a couple of years ago (when) we were coaching intent – if you make a mistake we'll try and deal with it and get the [decision-making] right." 

 

Hawthorn had its own concerns after Sunday's game with Isaac Smith going off in the third quarter with a lower leg injury and Luke Hodge hurt in a heavy tackle by Leigh Adams near three-quarter time.

Neither player returned to the field, but stand-in Hawthorn coach Cameron Bruce said both players should be available for the Hawks' next NAB Challenge match against St Kilda on March 19. 

Bruce said Smith had suffered a corked calf and Hodge "a bit of sore bum".

Click here to watch stand-in Hawks coach Cameron Bruce's full press conference

Bruce praised the performance of key defender James Frawley, who bounced back from a poor debut for the Hawks against Collingwood in round one of the NAB Challenge to be a solid performer against North. 

The former Demon kept Waite fairly quiet in the first half before rotating through a variety of opponents in the second half.

In a sign he had shed the nerves that dogged him against the Magpies, Frawley set up the Hawks' first goal when he ran down the ground and hit Jack Gunston on the lead. 

"He's just going to continue to get better, he's going to get more comfortable," Bruce said.

"He had a much more experienced backline to deal with, which will definitely help him.

"He didn't have the nerves that he had in the first game so I'm really confident and we as a coaching group are really confident that he'll be able to contribute this year for us."

Bruce said the Hawks' upcoming game against St Kilda could mark the return of Brendan Whitecross from his second knee reconstruction.

Whitecross has not played since the Hawks' 2013 preliminary final win over Geelong, when he was only 12 games into a comeback from his first ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. 

Bruce said Whitecross' possible return would be welcomed on a number of fronts. 

"The supporters enjoy Brendan being out there, the players certainly do, he offers a lot of versatility to our line-up and it's important that you get those players back," Bruce said. 

"He's experienced, he knows the set-ups, he'll be hungry, there's no doubt about that.

"I think we've seen that with a guy like Jed Anderson, guys that miss a lot of footy come in and provide real energy and enthusiasm, so it will be a big plus to get him out there."