All indications heading into the 2008 National Draft were that Jack Ziebell would be heading to Brisbane, with pick 7.

Likened to past champions Michael Voss and Nathan Buckley, 17-year-old Ziebell was described as ‘a tough onballer’ and ‘a future leader’ by The Herald Sun.

He played his junior football as a key-forward, famously lining up for Wodonga as a 15-year-old in 2006 as the youngest to play senior football in the club’s history.

Ziebell moved to Melbourne at the start of ’07. He was a live-in boarder at Caulfield Grammar and lined up for the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup, while becoming an AIS/AFL Academy graduate.

But while representing Vic Country in the State Championships in 2008, his football was almost thrown into limbo.

"I hyperextended my knee in the second game of the nationals," he said in the lead-up to the draft.

"It got to a point where I didn’t train a lot throughout the year, but it’s fine now after a rest."

Going into the draft on November 29, Ziebell was expected to become a Lion under new coach Voss.

AFL.com.au backed up that argument saying “In the lead-up to the draft, the one top 10 constant has been Ziebell linked to the Lions. Ziebell has been likened by some recruiters as having similar playing attributes to new Lions coach Michael Voss and Collingwood great Nathan Buckley. And it is understood Voss is a big fan, having worked closely with Ziebell during their AIS days. It would surprise if Ziebell was not a top 10 selection.”

But it wasn’t to be. With pick seven Brisbane selected West-Australian Daniel Rich.

Ty Vickery landed at Richmond with pick 8, with North only too happy to pounce on Ziebell.

“We certainly didn’t expect it until Friday when we heard Brisbane may take Daniel Rich, but the club is just delighted,” Recruiting Manager Bryce Lewis said at the time.

“His ability to play in the midfield and push forward is really exciting from our point of view. We think he has good leadership qualities as well and, with a young side, that’s another real positive. We couldn’t be happier.”

Ziebell was just as surprised.

“It’s turned out perfectly,” he said following the draft.

“I’m stoked to be staying in Melbourne because North is a great club and I have a lot of good friends living here already. I thought I was going to Brisbane but when Daniel Rich went there it meant I could stay in Victoria. It’s been an exciting couple of days.”

Ziebell delivered on the hype with a big performance in the NAB Cup and played the first ten games of 2009 before breaking his leg.

Those qualities as a leader shone through in his first few seasons, and in no time he was in the Roos’ official leadership group.

In eight seasons, Ziebell has played 147 games, averaging an impressive 19.1 disposals a match.