Video: Jack Ziebell bumps Sam Mitchell high in fiery start to North Melbourne-Hawthorn clash

NORTH Melbourne hard nut Jack Ziebell doesn’t believe he has anything to worry about after his late hit on Sam Mitchell? WATCH AND VOTE

North Melbourne’s Jack Ziebell’s high bump on Sam Mitchell will be scrutinised by the Match Review Panel. Picture: Channel 7

NORTH Melbourne hard nut Jack Ziebell doesn’t believe he has a case to answer after a late hit on Sam Mitchell on Friday night.

The acting Kangaroos captain made an early statement at Etihad Stadium by flattening Sam Mitchell in the opening minutes.

The Match Review Panel is sure to review the incident on Monday but Ziebell isn’t losing any sleep.

Ziebell said he didn’t get the Hawks star high and didn’t see an issue with the hit.

“That’s the way I play my best footy, attacking the contest,” he told ABC Radio.

“The match review panel will deal with it, it’s out of my hands now.

“I think I should be OK, I didn’t hit Sam high and he got straight back up and played out the rest of the game with no worries.

Ziebell said the Kangaroos looked to be more aggresive against the Hawks after losing to Geelong the previous week but refuted claims the attack on the ball and player detracted from their gameplan.

Fair hit? Ziebell with the bump on Mitchell further sparking tensions at Etihad. Tune in NOW. #AFLNorthHawks https://t.co/mmITSsgzAT

— AFL on 7 (@7AFL) June 17, 2016

“That’s something we’ve been working towards ... the week before against Geelong we got beaten up a little bit,” he said.

“Spud (Michael Firrito) plays on the edge ... I thought the boys executed well.”

Ziebell said at half-time North Melbourne wanted to show Hawthorn it wouldn’t be intimidated by a team that plays unsociable football.

“I suppose a little bit,” he told Channel 7. “But at the same time we’re a contested footy side, that’s our strength and that’s the way I play my best footy.

“I wanted to get out there and take my AFL abilities and put them on show. That’s what I tried to do to get the side going.”

Former Geelong captain Cameron Ling said the hit was “very late”, while Essendon great Tim Watson questioned whether the hit was high enough to constitute a report.

“It's close to being too high,” he said during commentary with Channel 7. “It’s right on the boundary of being too high.

“I reckon most of that went across his chest.”

Mitchell received a 50m penalty and did not leave the field as a result of the hit but checked his mouth for blood.

North Melbourne appeared keen to make a statement against the triple reigning premiers, with plenty of push and shove before the first bounce and in the aftermath of the Ziebell hit.

Michael Firrito also bumped Isaac Smith to the ground after the Hawk midfielder disposed of the ball.

Jack Ziebell stands over Sam Mitchell after collecting him with a late bump. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Firrito was involved again in a scuffle with Cyril Rioli after the quarter time siren.

There is no love lost between the two teams, with Friday night’s fiery start to the game a flashback to last year’s contest when Hawks Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis were suspended for striking in separate incidents.

Hodge copped a three-match ban for elbowing Andrew Swallow, while Lewis served two matches for striking Todd Goldstein.

In 2014, Hawthorn full back Brian Lake found himself in trouble with the AFL tribunal after grabbing Kangaroos forward Drew Petrie in a chokehold.

WOW!!! Now I miss footy! #AFLNorthHawks

— Brian Lake (@BrianLake17) June 17, 2016

Now this is footy! #AFLNorthHawks

— Mitch Robinson (@MitchRobinson05) June 17, 2016

Like to see @NMFCOfficial play like this every week. Aggressive, confrontational #onedge

— Swatta (@WayneSchwass) June 17, 2016

Hard to remember a more eventful first half. Four umps, but probably need 8 to see everything. #AFLNorthHawks

— Sam Edmund (@SammyHeraldSun) June 17, 2016