Captain Kangaroo inks on for life

North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell has signed a two-year extension that will keep him at Arden Street until after his 32nd birthday.

The a deal between the recently deployed defender and the club that drafted him with a top 10 pick had initially been slow in the making, but after ironing out any kinks, the skipper since 2017 looks set to remain a Kangaroo for life.

Speaking via an official statement sent out on Thursday night, Ziebell's ex-teammate and North Melbourne GM of Football Brady Rawlings said he was thrilled to have retained the 30-year-old after a career best year.

“Jack’s been a star of the club on and off the field ever since he set foot in the place,” Rawlings said.

“The negotiations took a little bit of time to work through, but Jack was comfortable with how things were progressing right through the process.

“Playing down back was a new experience for ‘Ziebs’ and he took to it like the professional we know he is. He was a calming influence when things were pretty rough early in the season and his leadership was invaluable as we turned things around in the second half of the year.

“We’re rapt he’s with us for at least another two years, as we take this exciting young group forward.”

Despite his side claiming the wooden spoon, the Wodonga-born wrecking ball managed to record a career-high mean of 25 disposals across his 21 appearances in 2021.

Given his steadiness in the defensive half and his ability to lead the plethora of joeys around him with aplomb, Ziebell is sure to be a red hot chance to claim his first Syd Barker Medal on October 1.

Since being selected with the 9th pick of the 2008 draft, Ziebell has donned the blue and white stripes 239 times - the 19th most in North's proud history.