Playing a grand finalist is never an easy task, but Jack Ziebell believes being fixtured against GWS for the resumption of the season is the perfect result for North Melbourne.

“GWS are obviously a very strong team so it will be great to test us, where we’re at straight away,” he told North Media after learning of the club’s Round 2 opponent.

“Their midfield bats very deep, [they’ve] got some quality defenders and their forward line, obviously Jezzy (Jeremy) Cameron is a handful so the big Taz (Robbie Tarrant) will be up for the challenge no doubt.”

Under the AFL’s new restrictions, teams traveling interstate will be required to fly in and fly out on the day of the game, rather than stay overnight in a hotel on either side of the game.

Despite the drastic change to the team’s travel schedule, Ziebell says the new-look itinerary will be “exciting” and he welcomes the challenge of it. 

It means North will fly to Giants Stadium on Sunday, June 14, play at 1pm and head back home straight after.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how it works,” he said.

“Flying in, in the morning, obviously the fitness guys will be on our case to make sure we are mobile and ready to go to play a game of AFL straight off the plane. I don’t mind the fly in fly out method but we’ll wait and see how we go.”

In Round 3, North will play the Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, June 20, at 1.45pm.

“Two Sydney teams first-up, that’s exciting,” Ziebell reacted.

“We’ve had some good battles with Sydney over the last couple of years, I remember last year was pretty tight. 

“Big Buddy (Lance Franklin) looks fit and firing so he’ll be as dangerous as ever. Their midfield also bats quite deep, they’ve got some good insiders so it should be a good tussle.”

After a seven-day break, North will gear-up for the Hawks in Round 4 as the away team at Marvel Stadium. The game set for Sunday, June 28 at 6.05pm.

“The Hawks are going pretty well, one of my good mates plays for them – Jonno (Jonathon) Ceglar in the ruck – I’ll look forward to beating him and rubbing his nose in it,” Ziebell said with a laugh.

Returning Brownlow Medal winner, Tom Mitchell is already on the Roos’ radar.

“He’ll have a few games under his belt by then as well. He’ll be a handful and a quality player and they’ve got some good young players coming through as well.”

Asked to guess North’s Round 5 opponent, Ziebell hit the nail right on the head when he answered, “The Bulldogs”.

“I thought we’d play them in the first month, just because of the location and the convenience of it,” he clarified.

Ziebell says North will be out for redemption when the sides clash at Marvel on Saturday, July 4 at 7.40pm.

“They got a hold of us in the pre-season actually so it will be a good game to test us again to see where we’re at, but looking to get one back from the pre-season. 

“Saturday night football; that will be big. 

“They’ve got quality players obviously Marcus Bontempelli through the midfield, he’s a superstar so we’ll have to be on our game to get the job done against the Dogs but that’s a good starting fixture for us.”

Round Two

Thursday, June 11
Collingwood vs. Richmond, MCG, 7:40pm AEST

Friday, June 12
Geelong vs. Hawthorn, GMHBA Stadium, 7:50pm AEST

Saturday, June 13
Brisbane vs. Fremantle, Gabba, 1:45pm AEST
Carlton vs. Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 4:35pm AEST
Port Adelaide vs. Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, 7:10pm ACST
Gold Coast vs. West Coast, Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm, 7:40pm

Sunday, June 14
Greater Western Sydney vs. North Melbourne, Giants Stadium, 1:05pm AEST
Sydney Swans vs. Essendon, SCG, 3:35pm AEST
St Kilda vs. Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 6:05pm AEST

Round Three

Thursday, June 18
Richmond vs. Hawthorn, MCG, 7:40pm AEST

Friday, June 19
Western Bulldogs vs. Greater Western Sydney, Marvel Stadium, 7:50pm AEST

Saturday, June 20
North Melbourne vs. Sydney, Marvel Stadium, 1:45pm AEST
Collingwood vs. St Kilda, MCG, 4:35pm AEST
Geelong vs. Carlton, GMHBA Stadium, 7:40pm AEST
Brisbane vs. West Coast, Gabba, 7:40pm AEST

Sunday, June 21
Gold Coast vs. Adelaide, Metricon Stadium, 1:05pm AEST
Essendon vs. Melbourne, MCG, 3:35pm AEST
Fremantle vs. Port Adelaide, Metricon Stadium, 6:05pm AEST 

Round Four

Thursday, June 25
Sydney vs. Western Bulldogs, SCG, 7:40pm AEST

Friday, June 26
Greater Western Sydney vs. Collingwood, Giants Stadium, 7:50pm AEST

Saturday, June 27
Port Adelaide vs. West Coast, Metricon Stadium, 1:45pm AEST
St Kilda vs. Richmond, Marvel Stadium, 4:35pm AEST
Essendon vs. Carlton, MCG, 7:40pm AEST
Gold Coast vs. Fremantle, Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm AEST

Sunday, June 28
Brisbane vs. Adelaide, Gabba, 1:05pm AEST
Melbourne vs. Geelong, MCG, 3:35pm AEST
Hawthorn vs. North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 6:05pm AEST

Round Five

Thursday, July 2
West Coast  vs. Richmond, Metricon Stadium, 7:40pm AEST

Friday, July 3
Collingwood vs. Essendon, MCG, 7:50pm AEST

Saturday, July 4
Carlton vs. St Kilda, MCG, 1:45pm AEST
Geelong vs. Gold Coast, GMHBA, 4:35pm AEST
Western Bulldogs vs. North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 7:40pm AEST
Brisbane vs. Port Adelaide, The Gabba, 7:40pm AEST

Sunday, July 5
Adelaide vs. Fremantle, Metricon Stadium, 1:05pm AEST
Sydney vs. Melbourne, SCG, 3:35pm AEST
Greater Western Sydney vs. Hawthorn, Giants Stadium, 6:05pm AEST