Jack Ziebell says North Melbourne desperate to improve on ninth-placed finish in 2018

North Melbourne surprised most footy fans by finishing ninth in 2018, but captain Jack Ziebell says the players know they could have done better and the heartbreak will drive them in 2019.

Jack Ziebell of the Kangaroos.

North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell says the heartbreak of falling painfully short of a finals berth last season is driving the Kangaroos to attack their 2019 campaign.

The Kangaroos finished one game outside of the top eight in 2018 after dropping two of their last three games.

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Ziebell said the team knew it was capable of more and was determined to take the extra step next year.

“Missing out on the finals last year was disappointing for the senior team and we are really motivated to make sure that we can go that one step further next year,’’ Ziebell said.

“With a few additions in the trade period this year, it was really exciting to be able to get those guys into the football club and get them to transition into the way we like to play and I think they have done that really well so far.

“We were all fully aware of what we were capable of as a football team and it was disappointing to not make the finals last year, but I think that just adds a bit more motivation for this year.

“There is also 17 other teams out there thinking they should play finals, so we understand there is a lot of hard work to be done between now and Round 1 to get ourselves in the best position to play finals next year.’’

.@NMFCOfficial announcing its partnership with Mazda to extend to its @aflwomens team @superfooty @heraldsunsport pic.twitter.com/OIf6F8Vjgw

— Rebecca Williams (@BecHeraldSun) November 29, 2018

Ziebell said the players the Kangaroos had added during the October trade period had made an instant impression at the club.

“Aaron Hall, Jasper Pittard, Jared Polec and Dom Tyson ... they are all very good players and you can see that in the way that they apply themselves at training,’’ Ziebell said.

“They’ve come straight in and hit the ground running from day one and they have set a really good example. They have only been here for two weeks but from what I’ve seen, they are, one, quality people which is what we want at the footy club and, two, very professional and very hardworking so I think they are going to set themselves up for quality years.’’

Ziebell had a minor knee cleanout post-season and said he would be ready to join in training with the main group in the next fortnight.

“I’m probably a week or two away from main training, but that’s well ahead of where I’ve been the last few years,’’ he said.

“I am in a really good position personally to attack pre-season and get that under my belt and head into the year.

“I had a clean-up of my knee, it’s all very minor and I was running a few weeks after, so no stress at all.

“I have been restricted the last few years with some injuries, so I am excited to get a bit of work done before Christmas and set myself up for a big 2019.’’

North Melbourne today announced its partnership with Mazda would extend to its AFL women’s team as they prepare to make their debut in the competition in 2019.