Triple premiership Hawk and current North Melbourne player Liam Shiels has defended coach Alastair Clarkson, saying his demeanor behind closed doors is different to what the public sees on game day.

Clarkson has been in the headlines for multiple verbal outbursts throughout this season, but Shiels told Shane McInnes on 3AW Football the North Melbourne coach is usually the one “cracking all the jokes”.

Click PLAY to hear Liam Shiels’ full interview on 3AW Football’s Saturday Sit Down 

“It’s a very different Clarko internally to perhaps the way the media portray him,” Shiels told 3AW.

“He gives feedback where it’s there to be given, but he’s normally the one cracking all the jokes.”