Can't view the video? Click here to watch it on YouTube
NORTH Melbourne vice-captain Jack Ziebell has called for players carrying suspensions into a new season to be able to serve those bans in the NAB Cup.
Ziebell was suspended for three games for his front-on bump on St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt in round 23 last season, but had to serve the two games that carried over into 2012 in the first two home and away rounds.
In contrast, Ziebell pointed out that Richmond's Reece Conca was able to serve the three-match suspension he incurred in round one of this year's NAB Cup in the Tigers' remaining NAB Cup games.
At Aegis Park on Thursday, Ziebell said he was "a little bit disappointed" he had not been able to serve his suspension during the NAB Cup.
"I think that's a little bit unfair and maybe there's something that can be done about that," he said.
"If you look back at Drew Petrie last year he got rubbed out for round one (of the home and away season) in round one of the NAB Cup. It's probably not too fair, I don't think."
Although Ziebell is right Petrie had to serve that one-match suspension in round one of last year's home and away season, he did so under the pre-season competition's previous knockout format.
North was knocked out of last year's NAB Cup after round one losses to Geelong and the Western Bulldogs. But all teams played four rounds of the NAB Cup in a new round-robin format this year, a change that allowed Conca to take his place in the Tigers' round one team against Carlton.
Despite his frustration, Ziebell said he had learnt from his bump on Riewoldt and would be "a little bit more careful" in similar situations the future.
"[I need to] ... just make sure that if that situation happens again I've learnt and know what not to do now," Ziebell said.
With his suspension now served, Ziebell is looking forward to making his return this Sunday against Geelong at Etihad Stadium.
The game will be his first since being selected as joint North vice-captain over the pre-season and Ziebell said it was "very important" that the Kangaroos started to be more competitive with top teams such as the reigning premiers.
But Ziebell said as much as the Kangaroos respected the Cats, their focus would be on their own play, specifically trying to be consistent over four quarters.
"We're just really looking forward to getting out there week after week and playing consistent football and just making sure that as a group that we keep improving," Ziebell said.
"It's going to be the younger guys bringing up the tail-end of the team that (are) going to make us a lot stronger as well, and the middle-tier (players) standing up. So if we can keep that up that will be fantastic."
Ziebell dismissed suggestions that Majak Daw's report for charging former North teammate Daniel Pratt in the VFL last Saturday would be a setback to the Sudanese-born rookie's push to make his AFL debut.
"It's a non-issue," Ziebell said.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
Can't view the video? Click here to watch it on YouTube
