Jack Ziebell welcomes North Melbourne’s AFL trades including Jaidyn Stephenson
Jack Ziebell has had his say on the club’s recruitment of forward Jaidyn Stephenson and what impact he expects the former Magpie to have at North Melbourne.
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Jack Ziebell says a new rehabilitation program that saw him taking only a week off running post-season is the first step to bouncing back from a torrid injury toll this year.
The North Melbourne captain said on Friday he was keen to continue in that role next season, but would await guidance from the club’s new coach David Noble.
The Roos have moved on from a disastrous 2020 season where they lost coach Rhyce Shaw, delisted 11 players, and lost veterans Ben Brown and Shaun Higgins to rival clubs.
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Ziebell says the club’s ability to bring in Aidan Corr, Jaidyn Stephenson and Atu Bosenavulagi while retaining a strong draft hand has him brimming with positivity.
But to be part of it he needs to overcome the soft-tissue problems that saw him battling with a calf issue all summer, then reinjuring his hamstring mid-season and playing only eight games.
“I couldn’t quite get my body right, so I am looking to bounce back this year for a solid pre-season for the first time in a while,” he said.
“It was hard to watch, having to sit on my hands on the sidelines when the team wasn’t performing to its optimum.
“So I am looking to get my body right and set myself up so I don’t miss any footy. I have had a good chat with the high-performance team here and prioritised my load management.
“In the past off-seasons I have maybe had too big a break from running, and other injury setbacks have contributed to me needing a spell.
“This year I had a week-and-a-half off when we finished in the hub and started running again, so the young boys start in three weeks and I am looking forward to sliding in there and doing some sessions with them.”
Collingwood’s desperation to trade Stephenson related at least in some part to his lack of professionalism in the Magpies hub as he endured a torrid third season.
But Ziebell said he could not fault him when he spent time at the club in his senior TAC Cup year as part of the AFL academy group.
“No one is perfect but (Stephenson) is a serious talent. He can kick serious goals and the way he started last year and the year before, kicking three or four goals in a quarter, if you can do that you have some serious talent,” Ziebell said.
“The boys did a fantastic job convincing him to come across and he actually spent two weeks here four years ago, and he was staying with Sam Wright and he was rapt with him and his training and demeanour. So we couldn’t be happier to land him.”
Ziebell, 30 in February, will wait until Noble arrives to see whether he remains as captain.
“Whatever is best for the club. If I am the man for the club … I am more than happy to continue on and vice versa,” he said.
Thomas to make his mark in Roos revival
– Glenn McFarlane
North Melbourne young gun Tarryn Thomas wants to become a role model for the Indigenous community, revealing his plans to emulate the work of teammates Jed Anderson and Jy Simpkin on and off the field.
And the 20-year-old forward/midfielder says he can’t wait to meet the club’s soon-to-appointed new coach, as he approaches his third AFL season under what will be his third senior mentor.
Thomas, whose 2020 season was cut short by an ankle injury, watched fellow Indigenous Kangaroos midfielders Anderson and Simpkin take their game to new levels this year and is eager to form a strong on-field partnership with them.
He featured in a mural painted on the ‘Our Community House’ on the corner of Curzon St and Victoria St in North Melbourne for NAIDOC week.
The mural, featuring the words ‘Treaty’ and ‘Respect, and aims to make a statement for Black Lives Matter, reflects on the importance of community and bringing cultural groups together.
“It‘s for such a good cause,” Thomas told the Herald Sun.
“My culture is important to me – as is my family and my other family at North Melbourne Football Club.
“I want to be a role model for young Indigenous kids.
“Jed and Jye have been great for me. Both had unbelievable years. I can’t wait to get back out there with them, and the rest of the boys.”
Thomas grew up admiring Hawthorn’s Shaun Burgoyne as well as North Melbourne’s Daniel Wells, with whom he has sometimes been compared.
“I always looked up to Shaun, Daniel and all the Indigenous players when I was growing up,” he said.
“The first time I got to play on Shaun in my first year I was actually pinching myself.
“It was such a surreal moment.”
The spectre of racism raised its ugly head again this year, with Carlton‘s Eddie Betts making a passionate call for change on Fox Footy.
“It is getting better,” Thomas said of his experiences.
“There is still a lot of work to do, but I think we are getting to where we all want to be.”
The departure of coach Rhyce Shaw for personal reasons was “sad”, but Thomas said the Kangaroos were well equipped to make amends for a disastrous 2020.
“Rhyce and I had a really good relationship. It was sad to see him go … I really hope he is doing well,” he said.
“I can’t wait to see who our next coach is.
“But we’ve been very lucky to have (senior assistant coach) John Blakey … he has been good for the group (since joining the club at the end of the season).
“I played on (Blakey’s son) Nick a few times. John has a great relationship with the players already. I can’t wait to see what we can learn from him.”
The Kangaroos are down to the last three coaching candidates – David Noble, Robert Harvey and Daniel Giansiracusa – with Noble believed to have plenty of support.
Thomas managed only six games in 2020 – after 20 in his 2019 debut season – after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Round 6.
He remained in the club’s Queensland hub for the rest of the season.
“It was super tough,” he said.
“I got injured in the first game in the hub and the club wanted me to stay with them (after the surgery).
“No one wanted to be in the hub, but we didn’t have a choice.
“But I still learnt heaps …”
The Kangaroos delisted 11 players after the season and also traded Ben Brown and Shaun Higgins to Melbourne and Geelong respectively.
But Thomas still believes the Kangaroos players will learn plenty of lessons out of the 2020 ashes.
He can’t wait to get back into training, but won’t rush his return to full-scale work.
He is excited by the recruitment of Aidan Corr, Jaidyn Stephenson, Atu Bosenavulagi and Lachie Young.
Contracted until the end of the 2022 season, Thomas said he loved the club and was looking forward to playing a role in its revival.
“This club means so much to me,” he said.
“Ever since I was in the Next Generation Academy (in Tasmania), they have done everything for me.”
“They are just like another family … I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in the future.”
MORE NORTH MELBOURNE NEWS:
AFL 2020: Daniel Giansiracusa in the race for North Melbourne job
North Melbourne says Arden St redevelopment shows future of club remains in the suburb
AFL trade period: Ben Brown joins Melbourne in trade period
Originally published as Jack Ziebell welcomes North Melbourne’s AFL trades including Jaidyn Stephenson
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