JAMES Sicily's Hawthorn teammate and one-time sparring partner Taylor Duryea says the suspended defender must learn where to draw the line with his intense on-field persona.

Sicily won't play in Saturday night's clash with St Kilda in Launceston because of a second suspension in only five rounds, and third overall.



MATCH PREVIEW: Will Tassie trip get Hawks back on track?

His latest indiscretion saw him outed for one game for "serious misconduct", in that he deliberately stood on Shaun Atley's leg while the Kangaroo was on the ground.

Sicily's emotions have spilled over several times in the past 12 months, including him shoving Duryea amid a heated verbal exchange in the Hawks' win over Fremantle in round 18 last year.

A bizarre moment! Sicily cops a falcon, then has a go at his teammate! #AFLFreoHawks pic.twitter.com/mivD5COTh6 — AFL (@AFL) July 22, 2017

"I think a lot of people are two different personalities when they step onto the field and I think that's what's required sometimes," Duryea told AFL.com.au.

"Everyone has to come out of themselves to be aggressive at certain stages (and) sometimes he may get the balance wrong.

"But in terms of the way he plays the game he's super intense, he's a really effective player for us and for him it's just about working out how close to the line he can get.

"There are no issues off the field – he's a really good clubman and good friend of most people."

Sicily has not fronted his clubmates to apologise or speak about his actions, with Duryea saying he considered the matter dealt with once the ban was handed down.

"We just have to go out there this weekend with the 22 that roll out, and that changes each week, depending on injury or suspension or whatever it is," Duryea said.

"So the 22 we take down to Tassie will get the job done.

"The thing you look forward to out of these things is it's an opportunity for someone else."

Meanwhile, Hawthorn has partnered with the Michael Cassel Group, producer of Priscilla The Musical, as part of its commitment to encouraging people to talk about mental health.

The Hawks and Sydney will again play for the beyondblue Cup on Friday, May 11 at the MCG, with stars from the successful musical providing pre-game entertainment.

Duryea, who lost a friend to suicide and watched family members struggle with depression and anxiety, and Tom Mitchell are Hawthorn's mental health ambassadors for 2018.

"The message they (the Priscilla stage show) sell of inclusion and mateship is something footy clubs do quite well," Duryea said at the club's launch.

"In relating that again to beyondblue, there's a really good relationship and hence why we bring the two together for the beyondblue round."

Duryea said he wanted to gain a better understanding of mental health and use his platform as an AFL footballer to make a difference.

"I can provide help to people who are close to me, but as a footballer, being able to sell certain messages to help other people, and even encourage people to speak, (is important)," he said.

"I think that's one of the real reasons I've been involved – to help people feel comfortable to talk about how they're feeling, because currently it's something not done well enough."