North Melbourne AFL coach Brad Scott has been served a suspended $5000 fine by the league for angry comments made towards Greater Western Sydney veteran James McDonald at Saturday's quarter-time break.

Scott was upset that McDonald had flattened North Melbourne's Jamie Macmillan with an off-the-ball bump, an incident for which McDonald subsequently copped a one-match suspension.

Scott said in a statement on Thursday night that while he would always back his players, he understood he had not done so in an acceptable manner on this occasion.

McDonald announced his retirement on Wednesday.