Former North Melbourne skipper Jack Ziebell will try to rework himself as a defender below new coach Alastair Clarkson this season.
Ziebell enters the brand new marketing campaign freed from captaincy duties for the primary time in six years, having handed over to Jy Simpkin and Luke McDonald final month.
It has allowed the 31-year-old veteran to give attention to honing his craft in a new-look back-line, the place he’ll line-up alongside increase recruit Griffin Logue.
Ziebell made his identify as a tricky midfielder and has performed the vast majority of his 258 AFL video games within the engine room.
But he additionally performed in defence throughout David Noble’s first 12 months as coach in 2021 earlier than spending extra time ahead final 12 months.
“Clarko sees me playing my role down back a little bit this year, which I’m really looking forward to,” Ziebell stated.
“Every year is a challenge to reinvent yourself as a player and I think it’s important to do that, especially later in your career, to try to make yourself stay relevant and continue to get a game.
“I misplaced just a few kilos within the low season working with the health guys, which enabled me to just about do each session thus far this pre-season.
“It’s the first time for a few years that I’ve been able to do that.”
Ziebell will not be the one participant tweaking his position below grasp coach Clarkson, who has set about implementing a contemporary recreation plan to raise the Kangaroos up the ladder after three seasons within the doldrums.
Powerful ahead Cam Zurhaar – certainly one of North’s prime two goal-kickers in every of the final 4 seasons – is making ready to spend extra time by means of the midfield.
“Cam’s had an outstanding pre-season and I think he’s starting to get a level of maturity in his game, as well,” Ziebell stated.
“He’s understanding the ability to be able to kick the big goals in the big moments but also his ability to bring his teammates into the game is something that’s really stood out for me this pre-season.
“He’s been an ideal teammate thus far and I’m trying ahead to him getting up the bottom somewhat bit extra and a bit extra concerned within the recreation, however hopefully he can nonetheless have a huge impact round targets.”
Ziebell is excited by the addition of key position player Logue – traded in from Fremantle last October – who adds versatility to the Kangaroos’ back-line along with Aidan Corr and Ben McKay.
“We’ll all most likely play some completely different roles – some rebounding, some intercepting and a few (shutdown) jobs we’ll must do as nicely,” Ziebell stated.
“The flexibility we’ll have within the again six goes to be actually thrilling.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
