Jack Ziebell confirms return to North Melbourne backline as star suffers injury scare

A versatile Roo will change position for a third straight year, while a star midfielder suffered an injury scare on the track.

Jack Ziebell says he has enjoyed an uninterrupted pre-season for the first time in a few years. Picture: Mark Stewart

Former skipper Jack Ziebell has revealed North Melbourne will swing some major positional changes in 2023, while his successor Jy Simpkin limped from the field during an intraclub match.

The new Kangaroos co-captain came off the ground clutching his hamstring just before halftime during Wednesday’s match simulation and did not return to the game.

Ziebell said he did not think the incident was any cause for concern as players approached the end of an intense fortnight of training at Arden Street.

“I had a bit of a chat to Jy at halftime, and he said he was a little tight in his hammy, so I said, ‘Mate, just don’t bother risking that’,” Ziebell said.

“It’s actually been a really big block for us the last two weeks, so I think today was the last really big main session we’ve got, so there was just a no-risk policy with a few of the boys. I think a few of the boys might not have finished the full session.”

Kangaroos co-captain Jy Simpkin left the track before halftime of North Melbourne’s intraclub game due to hamstring tightness and did not return to the field. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ziebell said he had “lost a few kilos” in the off-season and completed almost every pre-season session as he pushes towards a return to North’s back six in 2023.

“Every year is a challenge to try and reinvent yourself as a player – try and make yourself stay relevant and beat all the young guys out for a spot,” he said.

“We’ve had a few positional changes, getting some guys back like Ben Cunnington … Will Phillips in the midfield has had a full pre-season, he’s really fit.

“I started down back when (David Noble) was our coach back in 2021, played a little bit forward last year, and will play my role down back a bit more this year, which I’m looking forward to.”

Ziebell said livewire forward Cam Zurhaar was having an ‘outstanding’ pre-season and would spend more time in the midfield in 2023. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images

Ziebell said the versatility of fellow defenders Aidan Corr, Ben McKay and new recruit Griffin Logue meant the quartet would all play on a mix of talls and smalls depending on the opposition.

“We’re pretty flexible down there, recruiting Griffin Logue is a big get for us from Freo, he’s a big bloke but he’s very versatile, very athletic … we’ll all probably play different roles, some rebounding, some intercepting,” he said.

A trimmed-down Cam Zurhaar was likely to spend more time in the Roos midfield under new coach Alastair Clarkson, Ziebell said.

“I think we might see that a little bit. Cam has had an outstanding pre-season, he’s starting to get a level of maturity in his game as well … his ability to bring his teammates into the game is something that’s really stood out to me this pre-season,” Ziebell said.

“I’m looking forward to him hopefully getting up the ground a little bit more and more involved in the game, but hopefully he can still have that impact around the goals as well.”

Originally published as Jack Ziebell confirms return to North Melbourne backline as star suffers injury scare