AFL 2021: North Melbourne faces tough decision on out of contract captain Jack Ziebell

Free agent Jack Ziebell is set to play his 223rd game for North Melbourne on Sunday. But how many are left at the club he has given his all for?

North Melbourne has proven it is prepared to be savage when it comes to list management.

Last year 11 players were delisted before any of the 17 other clubs had finished their seasons.

In 2016, under a different regime, the legendary Brent Harvey was shown the exit door at Arden St, along with Drew Petrie, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito.

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Could this be the final year in the AFL for Jack Ziebell?

This year it faces another delicate decision. What to do with captain Jack Ziebell?

He is out of contract, qualifies as an unrestricted free agent and will turn 31 before the start of next season.

The Kangaroos’ warrior is a much-loved figure and has led the club since Andrew Swallow handed over the reins at the end of 2016.

The Roos are mindful that, after last year’s mega cull, their next generation will require plenty of wise heads to set high standards.

Remember when Melbourne sacked captain James McDonald, appointed a couple of kids and fell apart at the seams?

The brutal question is this – would Ziebell demand selection at many other clubs?

It appears the hardnut no longer has the legs to run in the midfield or the tricks to cause headaches up forward.

New coach David Noble has tried to reprogram him as a defender.

It was a tactic which worked beautifully for Matthew Boyd when new Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge wanted to refresh their midfield in 2015.

Jack Ziebell leads his team off after a giant loss on Good Friday.

At 32, Boyd won his third All-Australian jumper and became a premiership defender.

But playing behind the ball in Noble’s line-up under 2021 rules is a different beast.

It requires some serious defensive mettle. Ziebell’s numbers are OK, but visually it looks as though he is getting exposed.

Remember the follow-up work from Aaron Naughton on Good Friday, when the young pup kept going and going and going to set up goal as Ziebell fell out of sight?

The born onballer’s accountability has faded in a role he is still learning. He’s not Luke Hodge and, after 12 seasons in the midfield, nobody expected he would be.

Ziebell has had eight goals kicked on him this season, despite playing on lesser opponents. Ben McKay, who usually takes the big banana, is the only Roo who has conceded more goals (13).

It would be foolish to write Ziebell off and the AFL’s soft cap cuts only embolden his off-field value.

Kade Simpson has put up his hand for the mid-season draft. Taking a punt on him would deliver a quasi-assistant outside of that cap, which is partly why Port Adelaide gave respected defender Tyson Goldsack a rookie contract.

Regardless of whether Ziebell is offered another deal, Luke McDonald – the injured 26-year-old who has just signed a five-year extension – is expected to be appointed captain in 2022, although the official title shouldn’t detract from Ziebell’s appeal.

Seven of North Melbourne’s oldest 10 players fall out of contract this season.

David Noble has moved Ziebell into defence this year.

They are, in order of age, Robbie Tarrant, 31, Aaron Hall, 30, Ziebell, 30, Tom Campbell, 29, Shaun Atley, 28, Josh Walker, 28 and Dom Tyson, 27.

The three secured veterans are Todd Goldstein (contracted until 2022), Ben Cunnington (2022) and Jared Polec (2023).

Tarrant, albeit sidelined at the moment, would be the obvious pick to play on, while Walker’s strength as a key post should have him on solid ground.

Deciding who should stay and who should go shapes as a difficult balancing act.

Which way will it fall for captain Jack?