The first was from his coach Dean Laidley following the side's efforts against Fremantle.
Then, to prove that North's rivalry with Hawthorn is healthy, others came from his opponents at the MCG on Saturday.
But Harris proved he could rise above the criticism, starring in the Kangaroos' 27-point win to put them back in the top eight.
Harris and fellow midfielder Brent Harvey typified the side's return to toughness by throwing themselves into contests, laying tackles and setting up goals with efficient possession.
Afterwards, Harris conceded Laidley was justified in dishing out the spray to him after the 53-point defeat to Fremantle.
But he also directed some subtle criticism of his own towards Hawthorn, who had four players suspended from the previous two games against North.
"There was a fair bit said out there today," he said. "But it just comes back to your actions, winning the footy.
"That's being tough, winning the footy and putting your head over the footy.
"We don't think running around belting blokes is tough."
Harris said North was always confident of inflicting Hawthorn's second defeat of the season, provided they all contributed and won more battles when the ball was in dispute.
"We had to put enormous pressure on because a team like that, they'll slice you with their skills," he said.
"So everyone had to put pressure on and go second man in ... and eventually they'll cough it up.
"That's what we went into the game about and the boys did that a treat.
"Turnovers resulting in goals, that's exactly what we wanted."
North also proved sides could break down Hawthorn's zone structure by using handballs to run through space.
That tactic worked well at times, particularly in the last quarter, when Lindsay Thomas was able to find space alone in attack.
His three goals in the final term sealed victory.
"If you're just going to kick it down the line it will play straight into their hands, so you have to use the handball and get it quickly and just catch them out," Harris said.
"There's definitely spaces back.
"They (Hawthorn) pretty much tell you: 'If you're good enough to get it out the back and get it through us, then it can open up'."
